Is Washington cheaper than Durham?

No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,246 in Washington — 24% lower. Median household income is $101,722 in Washington compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Washington has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Washington or Durham?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 97 in Washington and 97 in Durham (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Washington or Durham?

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

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City comparison

Washington, DC vs Durham, NC

Washington, DC 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 $2,246 a month in Washington and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $101,722 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Washington takes job market and weather, while Durham takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where Washington leads by 36% — 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 Washington can feel further apart than Washington and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Washington and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Washington report Full Durham report

Washington, DC

Rent: $2,246/mo
Median income: $101,722
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 77°F

Durham, NC

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

Rent

24% cheaper

Durham rent is 24% cheaper than Washington

Washington

$2,246/mo

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $2,246 in Washington, so Durham is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $535/month back in your pocket — $6,420/year. Over five years that's $32,100 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 Washington, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Durham is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

36% higher

Washington's median income is 36% higher than Durham

Washington

Winner

$101,722

Durham

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $101,722 in Washington versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Washington — about $27,012 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, Washington 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

Neck and neck

Washington and Durham are about even on crime index.

Washington

97 (100 = avg)

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Washington 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

Washington and Durham are about even on school scores.

Washington

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Washington, 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

6% more comfortable

Washington weather is 6% more comfortable than Durham

Washington

Winner

77°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Washington scores 6% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 77°F in Washington and 79°F in Durham. Washington 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, Washington is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Washington

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 36% higher ($101,722), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 77°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Washington report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

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

Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% 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.

Open the Durham report →

Bottom line

Washington vs Durham, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Washington vs Durham FAQ

Is Washington cheaper than Durham?: No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,246 in Washington — 24% lower. Median household income is $101,722 in Washington compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Washington has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Washington or Durham?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 97 in Washington and 97 in Durham (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Washington or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Washington and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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