Is Cleveland cheaper than Durham?

Yes. Typical rent in Cleveland is $1,279 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $37,271 in Cleveland compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Cleveland or Durham?

Cleveland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham — 11% 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, Cleveland or Durham?

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

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City comparison

Cleveland, OH vs Durham, NC

Cleveland, OH 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 $1,279 a month in Cleveland and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $37,271 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Cleveland takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Durham takes job market. The widest gap is median income, where Durham leads by 100% — 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 Cleveland can feel further apart than Cleveland and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Cleveland and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Cleveland report Full Durham report

Cleveland, OH

Rent: $1,279/mo
Median income: $37,271
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Durham, NC

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

Rent

25% cheaper

Cleveland rent is 25% cheaper than Durham

Cleveland

Winner

$1,279/mo

Durham

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,279 a month in Cleveland versus $1,711 in Durham, so Cleveland is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $432/month back in your pocket — $5,184/year. Over five years that's $25,920 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, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

100% higher

Durham's median income is 100% higher than Cleveland

Cleveland

$37,271

Durham

Winner

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $37,271 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 100% higher in Durham — about $37,439 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. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Cleveland's crime index is 11% lower than Durham

Cleveland

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Cleveland's crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Cleveland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Cleveland, 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

Cleveland and Durham are about even on school scores.

Cleveland

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Cleveland, 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

26% more comfortable

Cleveland weather is 26% more comfortable than Durham

Cleveland

Winner

69°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Cleveland scores 26% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Cleveland and 79°F in Durham. Cleveland 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland

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

Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,279 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Cleveland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (69°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 26%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Cleveland is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Cleveland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Durham (86 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 Cleveland 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 100% 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

Cleveland vs Durham, called

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

If weather matters more to you, Cleveland pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Cleveland vs Durham FAQ

Is Cleveland cheaper than Durham?: Yes. Typical rent in Cleveland is $1,279 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $37,271 in Cleveland compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Cleveland or Durham?: Cleveland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham — 11% 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, Cleveland or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Cleveland and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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