City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Raleigh and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 49 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh is the easier city on typical rent, but Tampa can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Raleigh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Tampa are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $129 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $75,475 in Tampa, down $9,920 (12%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 93 in Tampa, down 49 points (35%).
The move
Tampa and Raleigh are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $129 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $9,920 (13%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 142 in Raleigh, up 49 points (53%).
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Raleigh and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 8% cheaper than Tampa
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Raleigh is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $129, or $1,548 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
13% higher
Raleigh's median income is 13% higher than Tampa
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Raleigh (about $9,920 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Raleigh is the stronger labor market on paper. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 35% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa is the easier city. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa 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 8% 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 13% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Tampa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but Tampa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Raleigh (93 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 49/100 in Raleigh). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,572 in Raleigh; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (62/100 in Tampa vs 49/100 in Raleigh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $75,475 in Tampa.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Tampa; Raleigh only makes sense when you have walked the Raleigh ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,572 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Tampa, plus other cities in NC and FL.
