Durham vs Raleigh
Compare Durham, NC and Raleigh, NC on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,249/mo in Durham and $1,366/mo in Raleigh, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,631/mo and $1,646/mo. Across the four public-data screens Raleigh comes out ahead (272 vs 253 summed points), though Durham still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 88°F and 89°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Durham; if walkable daily life matters more, Durham screens stronger on the walkability proxy (19 vs 18). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Durham leads 73 to 68 on the cost and climate screen.
Raleigh leads 81 to 73 on the work screen.
Raleigh leads 51 to 41 on the daily life screen.
Raleigh leads 72 to 66 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Durham is roughly $74,375 in Raleigh using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Durham | Raleigh | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,249/mo | $1,366/mo | Durham |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,631/mo | $1,646/mo | Durham |
| Median home value | $311,000 | $348,000 | Durham |
| State income tax | 4.0% | 4.0% | Tie |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 29.3 min | Durham |
| Safety score | 47/100 | 60/100 | Raleigh |
| School score | 7/10 | 8/10 | Raleigh |
| Walkability estimate | 19/100 | 18/100 | Durham |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 7/10 | Raleigh |
| Restaurants per 100k | 157.8 | 188.9 | Raleigh |
| Mountain distance | 68 mi | 87 mi | Durham |
| Coast distance | 113 mi | 95 mi | Raleigh |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 72/100 | 80/100 | Raleigh |
What stands out
Durham stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 130 miles
- Mountain access within 68 miles
- Shorter average commute
Durham tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Raleigh stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 146 miles
- Strong education proxy
Raleigh tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Durham cheaper than Raleigh?
On public benchmarks Durham is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,249/mo in Durham vs $1,366/mo in Raleigh; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,631/mo vs $1,646/mo; state income tax is 4.0% vs 4.0%.
Is Durham or Raleigh safer?
Raleigh screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 47/100 for Durham and 60/100 for Raleigh (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Durham or Raleigh?
School screens show 7/10 for Durham vs 8/10 for Raleigh, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Durham and Raleigh?
Durham: summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 29°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Raleigh: 89°F / 29°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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