Greensboro vs Raleigh
Compare Greensboro, NC and Raleigh, NC on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Greensboro is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $985/mo versus $1,366/mo in Raleigh — a gap of about $381/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,170/mo against $1,646/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (255 vs 265 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 88°F and 89°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Greensboro; if walkable daily life matters more, Raleigh screens stronger on the walkability proxy (18 vs 15). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Greensboro leads 78 to 63 on the cost and climate screen.
Raleigh leads 81 to 75 on the work screen.
Raleigh leads 49 to 46 on the daily life screen.
Raleigh leads 72 to 56 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Greensboro is roughly $31,875 in Raleigh using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Greensboro | Raleigh | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $985/mo | $1,366/mo | Greensboro |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,170/mo | $1,646/mo | Greensboro |
| Median home value | $189,000 | $348,000 | Greensboro |
| State income tax | 4.0% | 4.0% | Tie |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 29.3 min | Greensboro |
| Safety score | 47/100 | 60/100 | Raleigh |
| School score | 5/10 | 8/10 | Raleigh |
| Walkability estimate | 15/100 | 18/100 | Raleigh |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 178.9 | 188.9 | Raleigh |
| Mountain distance | 52 mi | 87 mi | Greensboro |
| Coast distance | 163 mi | 95 mi | Raleigh |
What stands out
Greensboro stronger signals
- Trail access within 31 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 128 miles
- Mountain access within 52 miles
Greensboro 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 Greensboro cheaper than Raleigh?
On public benchmarks Greensboro is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $985/mo in Greensboro vs $1,366/mo in Raleigh; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,170/mo vs $1,646/mo; state income tax is 4.0% vs 4.0%.
Is Greensboro or Raleigh safer?
Raleigh screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 47/100 for Greensboro and 60/100 for Raleigh (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Greensboro or Raleigh?
School screens show 5/10 for Greensboro 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 Greensboro and Raleigh?
Greensboro: summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 28°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Raleigh: 89°F / 29°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (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.
Start City Match