Durham, NC vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | DurhamDurham, NC | RaleighRaleigh, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
20 traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Durham, NC contrast with 7 in Raleigh, NC, a 2.7× higher rate for Durham in 2025 FBI data. In the same year, property crime per 100,000 people ran 3,584 in Durham versus 2,296 in Raleigh, with Durham 56% higher, placing Durham in the 96th percentile and Raleigh in the 83rd. The two cities also differ on commuting: the average commute in Durham is 22.7 min, while Raleigh’s is 25.1 min, making Raleigh 2 min longer, and 20.6% of Durham workers work from home compared with 14.5% in Raleigh, a 6.1-point gap.
In 2024 data, healthcare access scores put Durham at 100/100 and Raleigh at 94/100, a 6-point difference, with Durham in the 90th percentile and Raleigh in the 69th. Air quality index values are 51 for Durham and 46 for Raleigh, an 11% higher reading for Durham, though both earn an A- grade. Job growth over the past year shows Raleigh at +2.1% versus Durham’s +1.5%, a 0.6-point difference, with Raleigh in the 78th percentile and Durham in the 64th. Median home values in 2023 were $355,300 in Durham and $377,800 in Raleigh, with Raleigh 6% higher, and median rents were $1,412 and $1,468 respectively. The cost of living index sits at 123 for Durham and 129 for Raleigh, both near the 64th and 67th percentiles.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12364th pctl | 12967th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $355,30065th pctl | $377,80069th pctl | Median home value: Durham, NC $355,300; Raleigh, NC $377,800; Raleigh is 6% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,41265th pctl | $1,46869th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $79,23458th pctl | $82,42462nd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $69,02966th pctl | $73,40070th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Durham, NC $69,029; Raleigh, NC $73,400; Raleigh is 6% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $101,47266th pctl | $107,89870th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Durham, NC $101,472; Raleigh, NC $107,898; Raleigh is 6% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Raleigh needs about
$78,700
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 123 vs 129). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.1%24th pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.5%64th pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Durham, NC +1.5%; Raleigh, NC +2.1%; Raleigh is 0.6 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $47,24673rd pctl | $49,94877th pctl | Per-capita income: Durham, NC $47,246; Raleigh, NC $49,948; Raleigh is 6% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.2%53rd pctl | 11.4%49th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.7 min45th pctl | 25.1 min62nd pctl | Average commute: Durham, NC 22.7 min; Raleigh, NC 25.1 min; Raleigh is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 20.6%84th pctl | 14.5%68th pctl | Work from home: Durham, NC 20.6%; Raleigh, NC 14.5%; Durham is 6.1 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 50386th pctl | 39177th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Durham, NC 503; Raleigh, NC 391; Durham is 29% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,58496th pctl | 2,29683rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Durham, NC 3,584; Raleigh, NC 2,296; Durham is 56% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Durham, NC D-; Raleigh, NC C-; Raleigh is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Durham, NC B-; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Humid | Humid | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Durham, NC A+; Raleigh, NC A; Durham is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in North Carolina, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See North Carolina →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1 mi1st pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Durham, NC 1 mi; Raleigh, NC 4 mi; Raleigh is 3.3 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Durham, NC C; Raleigh, NC D+; Durham is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 481 mi67th pctl | 493 mi68th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 133 mi33rd pctl | 117 mi31st pctl | Distance to coastline: Durham, NC 133 mi; Raleigh, NC 117 mi; Durham is 13% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 288,46597th pctl | 470,76398th pctl | Population: Durham, NC 288,465; Raleigh, NC 470,763; Raleigh is 63% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,40468th pctl | 3,07179th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Durham, NC 2,404; Raleigh, NC 3,071; Raleigh is 28% higher. |
| Median age | 34.824th pctl | 34.723rd pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.7%85th pctl | 52.9%83rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Durham, NC 55.7%; Raleigh, NC 52.9%; Durham is 2.8 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.324th pctl | 2.331st pctl | About the same |
More about Durham's residents · Raleigh's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Durham and Raleigh
- Median rent: $1,412 in Durham, $1,468 in Raleigh
- Median home value: $355,300 in Durham, $377,800 in Raleigh
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 123 in Durham, 129 in Raleigh
- Median household income: $79,234 in Durham, $82,424 in Raleigh
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $101,472 in Durham, $107,898 in Raleigh
- Unemployment: 3.1% in Durham, 3.2% in Raleigh
- Average commute: 22.7 min in Durham, 25.1 min in Raleigh
- Violent crime per 100k: 503 in Durham, 391 in Raleigh
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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