City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
Safety is where Washington and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 81 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Washington makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Raleigh at $1,572 average has pockets that run $1,372 and others at $1,972: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Washington and Raleigh are 233 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $382 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $24,475 (22%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 142 in Raleigh, down 81 points (36%).
The move
Raleigh and Washington are 233 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $382 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $109,870 in Washington, up $24,475 (29%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 223 in Washington, up 81 points (57%).
Washington, DC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Washington and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 20% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,954 in Washington, so Raleigh is 20% 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 $4,584, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Washington.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Washington's median income is 29% higher than Raleigh
Washington
Winner$109,870
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Washington (about $24,475 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, Washington is the stronger labor market on paper. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 36% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh is the easier city. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 19% more comfortable than Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Washington averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Raleigh scores 19% 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 Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 29% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Raleigh if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (60°F) beat Washington on this page's weather index by 19%. Washington may pay more or cost less, but Raleigh is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Washington (142 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Raleigh leads on safety (49/100 vs 36/100 in Washington). Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,954 in Washington; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Washington still pays more locally ($109,870 median income vs $85,395), which can offset the lease if your field pays Washington rates.
Median income is $109,870 in Washington versus $85,395 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is ahead on safety (49/100 vs 36/100); Washington is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,954/month rent plus $109,870 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Raleigh, plus other cities in DC and NC.
