City comparison
Philadelphia, PA 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 $1,810 a month in Philadelphia and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $57,537 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Philadelphia takes safety and weather, while Durham takes affordability and job market. The widest gap is median income, where Durham leads by 30% — 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 Philadelphia can feel further apart than Philadelphia and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Philadelphia, PA
Durham, NC
Rent
5% cheaper
Durham rent is 5% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,810/mo
Durham
Winner$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $1,810 in Philadelphia, so Durham is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $99, or $1,188 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
30% higher
Durham's median income is 30% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$57,537
Durham
Winner$74,710
Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $57,537 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Durham — about $17,173 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
23% lower crime
Philadelphia's crime index is 23% lower than Durham
Philadelphia
Winner75 (100 = avg)
Durham
97 (100 = avg)
Philadelphia's crime index is 75 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Philadelphia. 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, Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia and Durham are about even on school scores.
Philadelphia
A- · 84/100
Durham
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, 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
13% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 13% more comfortable than Durham
Philadelphia
Winner75°F typical
Durham
79°F typical
Philadelphia scores 13% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 75°F in Philadelphia and 79°F in Durham. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Durham reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Durham's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 13%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 23% lower than Durham (75 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.
Fit check
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 $1,711 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 30% higher here ($74,710). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
If the job market is your priority, Durham is the clear choice.
If safety matters more to you, Philadelphia pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Durham offers the better overall package.
Common questions
Ready to move to Durham?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durhamwhen you're ready to act.
Find apartments in Durham
Browse rentals matched to your budget and neighborhood.
Get quote →Get moving quotes
Compare licensed movers and lock in a price before you pack.
Get quote →See mortgage rates for Durham
Check current rates and start a pre-approval in minutes.
Get quote →Compare storage near Durham
Find a unit nearby for the overlap days of your move.
Get quote →Keep researching