Is Portland cheaper than Durham?

No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,922 in Portland — 11% lower. Median household income is $85,876 in Portland compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Portland or Durham?

Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 111 in Portland — 13% 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, Portland or Durham?

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

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City comparison

Portland, OR vs Durham, NC

Portland, OR 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 $1,922 a month in Portland and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $85,876 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Portland takes job market and weather, while Durham takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is typical weather, where Portland leads by 26% — 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 Portland can feel further apart than Portland and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Portland and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Portland report Full Durham report

Portland, OR

Rent: $1,922/mo
Median income: $85,876
Crime index: 111
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Durham, NC

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

Rent

11% cheaper

Durham rent is 11% cheaper than Portland

Portland

$1,922/mo

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $1,922 in Portland, 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 $2,532 — 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 Portland.

Median income

15% higher

Portland's median income is 15% higher than Durham

Portland

Winner

$85,876

Durham

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,876 in Portland versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Portland — about $11,166 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, Portland 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

13% lower crime

Durham's crime index is 13% lower than Portland

Portland

111 (100 = avg)

Durham

Winner

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Durham's crime index is 97 versus 111 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% 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 Portland. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Portland and Durham are about even on school scores.

Portland

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Portland, 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

26% more comfortable

Portland weather is 26% more comfortable than Durham

Portland

Winner

69°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Portland scores 26% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Portland and 79°F in Durham. Portland reads as mild, livable temperatures; 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. Portland 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 Portland

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 15% higher ($85,876), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 69°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Portland report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

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.

Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Portland (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

Portland vs Durham, called

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

If safety matters more to you, Durham pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Portland vs Durham FAQ

Is Portland cheaper than Durham?: No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,922 in Portland — 11% lower. Median household income is $85,876 in Portland compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Portland or Durham?: Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 111 in Portland — 13% 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, Portland or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Portland and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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