City comparison
Yes. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Tampa and Durham split most clearly. Tampa scores 100 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,701 in Tampa and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham is the easier city on typical rent, but Tampa can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tampa and Durham are 594 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $193 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $81,619 in Durham, up $6,144 (8%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 193 in Durham, up 100 points (108%).
The move
Durham and Tampa are 594 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $193 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $75,475 in Tampa, down $6,144 (8%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 93 in Tampa, down 100 points (52%).
Tampa, FL
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 Tampa and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Durham rent is 11% cheaper than Tampa
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Durham is 11% 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 $2,316, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Durham's median income is 8% higher than Tampa
Tampa
$75,475
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Durham (about $6,144 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
52% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 52% lower than Durham
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa is the easier city. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°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. Tampa 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 Tampa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Tampa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than Durham (93 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
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 11% 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 8% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 40/100 in Durham, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,508. I would vet the exact ZIP in Durham before trading 22 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (62/100 in Tampa vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,701 in Tampa.
Tampa clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Durham deserves a serious look only when you already know the Durham block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Durham, plus other cities in FL and NC.
