Is Durham cheaper than Plano?

Yes. Typical rent in Durham is $1,711 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $105,679 in Plano, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Durham or Plano?

Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Plano — 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, Durham or Plano?

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

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City comparison

Durham, NC vs Plano, TX

Durham, NC versus Plano, TX 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 $1,931 in Plano, and median household income lands at $74,710 versus $105,679. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Durham takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Plano takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Durham leads by 63% — 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 Plano do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Durham and Plano reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Durham report Full Plano report

Durham, NC

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

Plano, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $105,679
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Durham rent is 11% cheaper than Plano

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

Plano

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $1,931 in Plano, so Durham is 11% 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 $2,640 — 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 Plano.

Median income

41% higher

Plano's median income is 41% higher than Durham

Durham

$74,710

Plano

Winner

$105,679

What this means for your life

Median household income is $105,679 in Plano versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Plano — about $30,969 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, Plano 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

11% lower crime

Durham's crime index is 11% lower than Plano

Durham

Winner

97 (100 = avg)

Plano

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Durham's crime index is 97 versus 109 in Plano (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Durham. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Durham, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Plano. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Durham and Plano are about even on school scores.

Durham

A- · 84/100

Plano

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

63% more comfortable

Durham weather is 63% more comfortable than Plano

Durham

Winner

79°F typical

Plano

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Durham scores 63% 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 91°F in Plano. Durham reads as warm weather most of the year; Plano reads as hot, long summers. 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. Durham is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Plano 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

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 11% 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 Plano on this page's weather index by 63%. Plano 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 11% lower than Plano (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 →

Fit check

Who should choose Plano

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 41% higher here ($105,679). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Plano report →

Bottom line

Durham vs Plano, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Durham vs Plano FAQ

Is Durham cheaper than Plano?: Yes. Typical rent in Durham is $1,711 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $105,679 in Plano, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Durham or Plano?: Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Plano — 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, Durham or Plano?: School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Plano. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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