City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Stockton 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 $1,577 in Stockton and $1,508 in Durham, and median household income lands at $79,907 versus $81,619. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Stockton 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.
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
Stockton and Durham are 2,324 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $69 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $81,619 in Durham, up $1,712 (2%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 193 in Durham, down 40 points (17%).
The move
Durham and Stockton are 2,324 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $69 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $79,907 in Stockton, down $1,712 (2%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 233 in Stockton, up 40 points (21%).
Stockton, 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 Stockton and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Durham rent is 4% cheaper than Stockton
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Durham is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $69, or $828 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Durham's median income is 2% higher than Stockton
Stockton
$79,907
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Durham (about $1,712 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
17% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 17% lower than Stockton
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Stockton
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Stockton sits near 71°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. Stockton 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Stockton if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Stockton is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Stockton (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
Stockton carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 40/100 in Durham). That 6-point spread matters more than the $69 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $69 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,577 in Stockton.
If safety drives your move, Durham is the stronger match (40/100 safety versus 34/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Durham?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Stockton and Durham, plus other cities in CA and NC.
