City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The cost gap between Raleigh and Toledo is the real story here. Toledo comes in 41% cheaper on typical rent ($1,572 vs $934), which over a year adds up to $7,656. Median household income runs $85,395 in Raleigh and $62,224 in Toledo.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Raleigh and Toledo are 486 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $934 a month in Toledo, down $638 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $62,224 in Toledo, down $23,171 (27%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 221 in Toledo, up 79 points (56%).
The move
Toledo and Raleigh are 486 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $638 a month (68%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $23,171 (37%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 142 in Raleigh, down 79 points (36%).
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Raleigh and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Toledo rent is 41% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Toledo is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $638/month back in your pocket ($7,656/year). Over five years that's $38,280 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Raleigh, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Raleigh's median income is 37% higher than Toledo
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Raleigh (about $23,171 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 36% lower than Toledo
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
41% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 41% more comfortable than Toledo
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh scores 41% 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 Toledo 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 37% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Toledo (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $934/month in Toledo versus $1,572 in Raleigh. Median income reads $62,224 in Toledo and $85,395 in Raleigh, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Toledo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Raleigh deserves a serious look only when your $85,395 income offer in Raleigh outweighs saving $638/month in Toledo.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Toledo, plus other cities in NC and OH.
