Is Boston cheaper than Durham?

No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,941 in Boston — 42% lower. Median household income is $89,212 in Boston compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Boston has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Boston or Durham?

Boston is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 97 in Durham — 26% 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, Boston or Durham?

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

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City comparison

Boston, MA vs Durham, NC

Boston, MA 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 $2,941 a month in Boston and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $89,212 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Boston takes job market, safety, and weather, while Durham takes affordability. The widest gap is rent, 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 Boston can feel further apart than Boston and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Boston and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Boston report Full Durham report

Boston, MA

Rent: $2,941/mo
Median income: $89,212
Crime index: 72
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Durham, NC

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

Rent

42% cheaper

Durham rent is 42% cheaper than Boston

Boston

$2,941/mo

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $2,941 in Boston, so Durham is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $1,230/month back in your pocket — $14,760/year. Over five years that's $73,800 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 Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Durham is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

19% higher

Boston's median income is 19% higher than Durham

Boston

Winner

$89,212

Durham

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $89,212 in Boston versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Boston — about $14,502 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, Boston 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

26% lower crime

Boston's crime index is 26% lower than Durham

Boston

Winner

72 (100 = avg)

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Boston's crime index is 72 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Boston. 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, Boston is the easier city. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Boston and Durham are about even on school scores.

Boston

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Boston, 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

22% more comfortable

Boston weather is 22% more comfortable than Durham

Boston

Winner

68°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Boston scores 22% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 68°F in Boston and 79°F in Durham. Boston reads as mild, livable temperatures; Durham reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Boston is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Durham can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Boston

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 19% higher ($89,212), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 68°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Durham (72 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 Boston report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham

Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Durham report →

Bottom line

Boston vs Durham, called

If cost of living is your priority, Durham is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Boston pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Boston vs Durham FAQ

Is Boston cheaper than Durham?: No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,941 in Boston — 42% lower. Median household income is $89,212 in Boston compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Boston has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Boston or Durham?: Boston is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 97 in Durham — 26% 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, Boston or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Boston and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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