Is Durham cheaper than Toledo?

No. Toledo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,076 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 37% lower. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $45,405 in Toledo, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Durham or Toledo?

Toledo 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, Durham or Toledo?

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

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City comparison

Durham, NC vs Toledo, OH

Durham, NC versus Toledo, OH 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 $1,076 in Toledo, and median household income lands at $74,710 versus $45,405. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Durham takes job market, while Toledo takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Durham leads by 65% — 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 Toledo do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Durham and Toledo reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Durham report Full Toledo report

Durham, NC

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

Toledo, OH

Rent: $1,076/mo
Median income: $45,405
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Rent

37% cheaper

Toledo rent is 37% cheaper than Durham

Durham

$1,711/mo

Toledo

Winner

$1,076/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,076 a month in Toledo versus $1,711 in Durham, so Toledo is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $635/month back in your pocket — $7,620/year. Over five years that's $38,100 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, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

65% higher

Durham's median income is 65% higher than Toledo

Durham

Winner

$74,710

Toledo

$45,405

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $45,405 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 65% higher in Durham — about $29,305 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. Toledo 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

Toledo's crime index is 11% lower than Durham

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

Toledo

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

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

Durham and Toledo are about even on school scores.

Durham

A- · 84/100

Toledo

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

22% more comfortable

Toledo weather is 22% more comfortable than Durham

Durham

79°F typical

Toledo

Winner

68°F typical

What this means for your life

Toledo scores 22% 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 68°F in Toledo. Durham reads as warm weather most of the year; Toledo 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. Toledo 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 better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 65% 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 →

Fit check

Who should choose Toledo

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

Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,076 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Toledo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 22%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Toledo is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Toledo 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 Toledo report →

Bottom line

Durham vs Toledo, called

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

If cost of living matters more to you, Toledo pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Durham vs Toledo FAQ

Is Durham cheaper than Toledo?: No. Toledo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,076 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 37% lower. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $45,405 in Toledo, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Durham or Toledo?: Toledo 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, Durham or Toledo?: School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Toledo. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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