City comparison
Yes. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Durham is significant: $140,970 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,508 in Durham.
San Francisco 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 San Francisco is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Durham are 2,386 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $968 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $81,619 in Durham, down $59,351 (42%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 193 in Durham, up 10 points (5%).
The move
Durham and San Francisco are 2,386 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $968 a month (64%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $59,351 (73%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 183 in San Francisco, down 10 points (5%).
San Francisco, 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 San Francisco and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Durham rent is 39% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Durham is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $968/month back in your pocket ($11,616/year). Over five years that's $58,080 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 San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Durham is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
73% higher
San Francisco's median income is 73% higher than Durham
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 73% higher in San Francisco (about $59,351 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, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
5% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 5% lower than Durham
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in San Francisco. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in San Francisco, 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
20% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 20% 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 73% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Francisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Durham (183 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 39% 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Durham at $1,508/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($968 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $81,619 in Durham, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 65°F in San Francisco and 59°F in Durham.
Durham clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. San Francisco deserves a serious look only when your $140,970 income offer in San Francisco outweighs saving $968/month in Durham.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Durham, plus other cities in CA and NC.
