Is Houston cheaper than Durham?

Yes. Typical rent in Houston is $1,260 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 26% cheaper. Median household income is $60,440 in Houston compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Houston or Durham?

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

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

New search

City comparison

Houston, TX vs Durham, NC

Houston, TX 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 $1,260 a month in Houston and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $60,440 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Houston takes affordability, while Durham takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Durham leads by 56% — 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 Houston can feel further apart than Houston and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Houston and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Houston report Full Durham report

Houston, TX

Rent: $1,260/mo
Median income: $60,440
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 90°F

Durham, NC

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

Rent

26% cheaper

Houston rent is 26% cheaper than Durham

Houston

Winner

$1,260/mo

Durham

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,260 a month in Houston versus $1,711 in Durham, so Houston is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $451/month back in your pocket — $5,412/year. Over five years that's $27,060 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, Houston is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

24% higher

Durham's median income is 24% higher than Houston

Houston

$60,440

Durham

Winner

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $60,440 in Houston, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Durham — about $14,270 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. Houston 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 Houston

Houston

109 (100 = avg)

Durham

Winner

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Durham's crime index is 97 versus 109 in Houston (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 Houston. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Houston and Durham are about even on school scores.

Houston

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Houston, 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

56% more comfortable

Durham weather is 56% more comfortable than Houston

Houston

90°F typical

Durham

Winner

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Durham scores 56% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 90°F in Houston and 79°F in Durham. Houston reads as hot, long summers; Durham 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. Durham is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Houston 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 Houston

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Houston

Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,260 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Houston report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

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 24% higher ($74,710), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 79°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

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 Houston (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

Houston vs Durham, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Houston vs Durham FAQ

Is Houston cheaper than Durham?: Yes. Typical rent in Houston is $1,260 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 26% cheaper. Median household income is $60,440 in Houston compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Houston or Durham?: Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Houston — 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, Houston or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Houston and A- in Durham. 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