City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Safety is where Raleigh and Stockton split most clearly. Raleigh scores 91 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,577 in Stockton.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Stockton makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Stockton has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Stockton are 2,342 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $5 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $79,907 in Stockton, down $5,488 (6%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 233 in Stockton, up 91 points (64%).
The move
Stockton and Raleigh are 2,342 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $5 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $5,488 (7%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 142 in Raleigh, down 91 points (39%).
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Raleigh and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 1% cheaper than Stockton
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Raleigh is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $5, or $60 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Raleigh's median income is 7% higher than Stockton
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Raleigh (about $5,488 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
39% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 39% lower than Stockton
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Raleigh. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Raleigh is the easier city. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Stockton
Winner67°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Stockton averages about 67°F (78°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Stockton sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton scores 16% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Raleigh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Stockton (142 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Stockton if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but Stockton is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Raleigh leads on safety (49/100 vs 34/100 in Stockton). With rent tied near $1,572/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $79,907 in Stockton — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Between Raleigh and Stockton, Raleigh is ahead on safety — 49/100 safety versus 34/100. Lean Stockton instead when you already know the Stockton block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 67°F in Stockton.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Stockton, plus other cities in NC and CA.
