City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Durham is significant: $123,860 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Durham 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
Seattle and Durham are 2,341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $522 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $81,619 in Durham, down $42,241 (34%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 193 in Durham, down 59 points (23%).
The move
Durham and Seattle are 2,341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $522 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $123,860 in Seattle, up $42,241 (52%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 252 in Seattle, up 59 points (31%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Durham rent is 26% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Durham is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $522/month back in your pocket ($6,264/year). Over five years that's $31,320 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 Seattle, 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
52% higher
Seattle's median income is 52% higher than Durham
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Seattle (about $42,241 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, Seattle 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
23% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 23% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Durham. 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, Durham is the easier city. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Durham weather is 15% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 15% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 52% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% 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.
Pick Durham if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 15%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Durham is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 23% lower than Seattle (193 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
Durham is cheaper on rent ($1,508/month vs $2,030), but Seattle's $123,860 median income beats Durham's $81,619 by 34%. Remote workers paid on Seattle scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Seattle still pays more locally ($123,860 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Seattle rates.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 40/100 in Durham.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Seattle; Durham only makes sense when $1,508/month housing savings outweigh $123,860 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Durham, plus other cities in WA and NC.
