Which city is safer, Durham or Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?

Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 140 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) — 77% 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?

School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance). Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Durham, NC vs Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), TN

Durham, NC versus Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), TN 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 $1,508 a month in Durham and $1,586 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), and median household income lands at $81,619 versus $77,371. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Durham takes affordability, job market, and safety, while Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) takes weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Durham leads by 77% — 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Durham and Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Durham report Full Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) report

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,508/mo
Median income: $81,619
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 77°F

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), TN

Rent: $1,586/mo
Median income: $77,371
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 70°F

Rent

5% cheaper

Durham rent is 5% cheaper than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Durham

Winner

$1,508/mo

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

$1,586/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,586 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), so Durham is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $78, or $936 a year — noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.

Median income

5% higher

Durham's median income is 5% higher than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Durham

Winner

$81,619

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

$77,371

What this means for your life

Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $77,371 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), so typical pay runs 5% higher in Durham — about $4,248 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

77% lower crime

Durham's crime index is 77% lower than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Durham

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Durham's crime index is 32 versus 140 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% 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. Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) are about even on school scores.

Durham

A- · 84/100

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Durham, A- in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)). 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

20% more comfortable

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham

Durham

77°F typical

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Winner

70°F typical

What this means for your life

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) scores 20% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 77°F in Durham and 70°F in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance). Durham reads as warm weather most of the year; Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) reads as mild, livable temperatures. 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. Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) 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

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) (32 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 →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

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

Pick Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) report →

Bottom line

Durham vs Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), called

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

If weather matters more to you, Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Durham vs Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) FAQ

Is Durham cheaper than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?: Yes. Typical rent in Durham is $1,508 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) — 5% cheaper. Median household income is $81,619 in Durham compared with $77,371 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Durham or Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?: Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 140 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) — 77% 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?: School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance). Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Durham?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps