City comparison
Raleigh, NC 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 $1,750 a month in Raleigh and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $78,631 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Raleigh takes job market, while Durham takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where Raleigh leads by 5% — 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 Raleigh can feel further apart than Raleigh and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Raleigh and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Raleigh, NC
Durham, NC
Rent
2% cheaper
Durham rent is 2% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,750/mo
Durham
Winner$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $1,750 in Raleigh, so Durham is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $39, or $468 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
5% higher
Raleigh's median income is 5% higher than Durham
Raleigh
Winner$78,631
Durham
$74,710
Median household income is $78,631 in Raleigh versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Raleigh — about $3,921 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
Neck and neck
Raleigh and Durham are about even on crime index.
Raleigh
97 (100 = avg)
Durham
97 (100 = avg)
Raleigh and Durham post similar crime indexes (97 vs 97, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.
School scores
Neck and neck
Raleigh and Durham are about even on school scores.
Raleigh
A- · 84/100
Durham
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Raleigh, 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
Neck and neck
Raleigh and Durham are about even on typical weather.
Raleigh
79°F typical
Durham
79°F typical
Outdoor comfort is close between Raleigh and Durham. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Raleigh and 79°F in Durham. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($78,631). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Most movers who want a balanced city without a clear dealbreaker category
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% 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.
Bottom line
If the job market is your priority, Raleigh is the clear choice.
If cost of living matters more to you, Durham pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Durham offers the better overall package.
Common questions
Ready to move to Durham?
Next steps
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