Is Atlanta cheaper than Durham?

Yes. Typical rent in Atlanta is $1,017 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 41% cheaper. Median household income is $52,597 in Atlanta compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Atlanta or Durham?

Atlanta is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 93 versus 97 in Durham — 4% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Atlanta or Durham?

School composites are close: A- in Atlanta and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Atlanta, GA vs Durham, NC

Atlanta, GA versus Durham, NC is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,017 a month in Atlanta and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $52,597 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Atlanta takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Durham takes job market. The widest gap is median income, where Durham leads by 42% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Atlanta can feel further apart than Atlanta and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Atlanta and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Atlanta report Full Durham report

Atlanta, GA

Rent: $1,017/mo
Median income: $52,597
Crime index: 93
Schools: A-
Weather: 63°F

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,711/mo
Median income: $74,710
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

41% cheaper

Atlanta rent is 41% cheaper than Durham

Atlanta

Winner

$1,017/mo

Durham

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,017 a month in Atlanta versus $1,711 in Durham, so Atlanta is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $694/month back in your pocket — $8,328/year. Over five years that's $41,640 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 Durham, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Atlanta is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

42% higher

Durham's median income is 42% higher than Atlanta

Atlanta

$52,597

Durham

Winner

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $52,597 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Durham — about $22,113 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, Durham is the stronger labor market on paper. Atlanta can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

4% lower crime

Atlanta's crime index is 4% lower than Durham

Atlanta

Winner

93 (100 = avg)

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Atlanta's crime index is 93 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Atlanta. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Atlanta, 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.

School scores

Neck and neck

Atlanta and Durham are about even on school scores.

Atlanta

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Atlanta, A- in Durham). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

6% more comfortable

Atlanta weather is 6% more comfortable than Durham

Atlanta

Winner

63°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Atlanta scores 6% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 63°F in Atlanta and 79°F in Durham. Atlanta reads as mild, livable temperatures; Durham reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Durham's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Atlanta is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Atlanta

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $1,017 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Atlanta if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (63°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 6%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Atlanta is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% 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.

Open the Atlanta report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($74,710). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Durham report →

Bottom line

Atlanta vs Durham, called

If the job market is your priority, Durham is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Atlanta pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Atlanta offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Atlanta vs Durham FAQ

Is Atlanta cheaper than Durham?: Yes. Typical rent in Atlanta is $1,017 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 41% cheaper. Median household income is $52,597 in Atlanta compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Atlanta or Durham?: Atlanta is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 93 versus 97 in Durham — 4% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Atlanta or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Atlanta and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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