Is Durham cheaper than Jersey City?

Yes. Typical rent in Durham is $1,711 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 38% cheaper. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $91,151 in Jersey City, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Durham or Jersey City?

Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 97 in Durham — 30% 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, Durham or Jersey City?

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

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City comparison

Durham, NC vs Jersey City, NJ

Durham, NC versus Jersey City, NJ 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 $1,711 a month in Durham and $2,763 in Jersey City, and median household income lands at $74,710 versus $91,151. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Durham takes affordability, while Jersey City takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Durham leads by 38% — 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 Durham can feel further apart than Durham and Jersey City do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Durham and Jersey City reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Durham report Full Jersey City report

Durham, NC

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

Jersey City, NJ

Rent: $2,763/mo
Median income: $91,151
Crime index: 68
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Rent

38% cheaper

Durham rent is 38% cheaper than Jersey City

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

Jersey City

$2,763/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $2,763 in Jersey City, so Durham is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $1,052/month back in your pocket — $12,624/year. Over five years that's $63,120 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 Jersey City, 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

22% higher

Jersey City's median income is 22% higher than Durham

Durham

$74,710

Jersey City

Winner

$91,151

What this means for your life

Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Jersey City — about $16,441 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, Jersey City 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

30% lower crime

Jersey City's crime index is 30% lower than Durham

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

Jersey City

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Jersey City's crime index is 68 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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

Durham and Jersey City are about even on school scores.

Durham

A- · 84/100

Jersey City

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Durham, A- in Jersey City). 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

19% more comfortable

Jersey City weather is 19% more comfortable than Durham

Durham

79°F typical

Jersey City

Winner

73°F typical

What this means for your life

Jersey City scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Durham and 73°F in Jersey City. Durham reads as warm weather most of the year; Jersey City 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. Jersey City 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 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 38% 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 →

Fit check

Who should choose Jersey City

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 22% higher ($91,151), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 73°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Durham (68 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 Jersey City report →

Bottom line

Durham vs Jersey City, called

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

If safety matters more to you, Jersey City pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Durham vs Jersey City FAQ

Is Durham cheaper than Jersey City?: Yes. Typical rent in Durham is $1,711 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 38% cheaper. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $91,151 in Jersey City, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Durham or Jersey City?: Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 97 in Durham — 30% 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, Durham or Jersey City?: School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Jersey City. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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