Is Washington cheaper than Raleigh?

No. Raleigh is cheaper: typical rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,954 in Washington — 20% lower. Median household income is $109,870 in Washington compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Washington has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Washington or Raleigh?

Raleigh is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 97 in Washington — 67% 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, Washington or Raleigh?

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

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City comparison

Washington, DC vs Raleigh, NC

Washington, DC versus Raleigh, 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 $1,954 a month in Washington and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $109,870 versus $85,395. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Washington takes job market and weather, while Raleigh takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is crime index, where Raleigh leads by 67% — 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 Raleigh do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Washington and Raleigh reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Washington report Full Raleigh report

Washington, DC

Rent: $1,954/mo
Median income: $109,870
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 74°F

Raleigh, NC

Rent: $1,572/mo
Median income: $85,395
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

20% cheaper

Raleigh rent is 20% cheaper than Washington

Washington

$1,954/mo

Raleigh

Winner

$1,572/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,954 in Washington, so Raleigh is 20% 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 $4,584 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Washington.

Median income

29% higher

Washington's median income is 29% higher than Raleigh

Washington

Winner

$109,870

Raleigh

$85,395

What this means for your life

Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Washington — about $24,475 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. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

67% lower crime

Raleigh's crime index is 67% lower than Washington

Washington

97 (100 = avg)

Raleigh

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Raleigh's crime index is 32 versus 97 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh is the easier city. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Washington and Raleigh are about even on school scores.

Washington

A- · 84/100

Raleigh

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Washington, A- in Raleigh). 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

Washington weather is 13% more comfortable than Raleigh

Washington

Winner

74°F typical

Raleigh

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Washington scores 13% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 74°F in Washington and 78°F in Raleigh. Washington reads as warm weather most of the year; Raleigh reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Raleigh'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 29% higher ($109,870), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 74°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 Raleigh

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

Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Washington (32 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 Raleigh report →

Bottom line

Washington vs Raleigh, called

If safety is your priority, Raleigh is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Washington pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Washington vs Raleigh FAQ

Is Washington cheaper than Raleigh?: No. Raleigh is cheaper: typical rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,954 in Washington — 20% lower. Median household income is $109,870 in Washington compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Washington has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Washington or Raleigh?: Raleigh is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 97 in Washington — 67% 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, Washington or Raleigh?: School composites are close: A- in Washington and A- in Raleigh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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