Is Denver cheaper than Durham?

No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 18% lower. Median household income is $85,853 in Denver compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Denver or Durham?

Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 137 in Denver — 29% 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, Denver or Durham?

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

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City comparison

Denver, CO vs Durham, NC

Denver, CO 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 $2,089 a month in Denver and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $85,853 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Denver takes job market, while Durham takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Durham leads by 29% — 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 Denver can feel further apart than Denver and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Denver and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Denver report Full Durham report

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Durham, NC

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

Rent

18% cheaper

Durham rent is 18% cheaper than Denver

Denver

$2,089/mo

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $2,089 in Denver, so Durham is 18% 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 $4,536 — 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 Denver.

Median income

15% higher

Denver's median income is 15% higher than Durham

Denver

Winner

$85,853

Durham

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Denver — about $11,143 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, Denver 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

29% lower crime

Durham's crime index is 29% lower than Denver

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

Durham

Winner

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Durham's crime index is 97 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Durham. 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, Durham is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Denver and Durham are about even on school scores.

Denver

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Denver, 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

11% more comfortable

Durham weather is 11% more comfortable than Denver

Denver

82°F typical

Durham

Winner

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Durham scores 11% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 82°F in Denver and 79°F in Durham. Denver reads as hot, long summers; 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 Denver's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Durham is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

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

Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% 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.

Pick Durham if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 11%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Durham is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Denver (97 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 Durham report →

Bottom line

Denver vs Durham, called

If safety is your priority, Durham is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Denver vs Durham FAQ

Is Denver cheaper than Durham?: No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 18% lower. Median household income is $85,853 in Denver compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Denver or Durham?: Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 137 in Denver — 29% 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, Denver or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Denver and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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