City comparison
Sacramento is safer than Durham. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Sacramento and Durham are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,508 in Durham, and median household income lands at $87,321 versus $81,619. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Sacramento is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Sacramento is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Sacramento and Durham are 2,327 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $271 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $81,619 in Durham, down $5,702 (7%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 193 in Durham, up 12 points (7%).
The move
Durham and Sacramento are 2,327 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $271 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $5,702 (7%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 181 in Sacramento, down 12 points (6%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Durham rent is 15% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Durham is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,252, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Sacramento.
Planning to buy in Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Sacramento's median income is 7% higher than Durham
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Sacramento (about $5,702 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
6% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 6% lower than Durham
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Sacramento. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sacramento, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 6% more comfortable than Durham
Sacramento
Winner70°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Sacramento averages about 70°F (82°F highs); Durham averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Sacramento sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 63°F. Sacramento scores 6% 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 Durham 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 7% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Durham (181 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 Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham 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: $1,508/month in Durham versus $1,779 in Sacramento. Median income reads $81,619 in Durham and $87,321 in Sacramento, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 42/100 in Sacramento and 40/100 in Durham.
Durham clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Sacramento deserves a serious look only when your $87,321 income offer in Sacramento outweighs saving $271/month in Durham.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Durham, plus other cities in CA and NC.
