Athens, AL vs Durham, NC
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Athens
70
#1140 nationally
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
Durham leads in walk score (33 vs 21). Durham leads in median household income ($67,432 vs $57,444). Athens leads in cost of living index (93 vs 102).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Athens, AL | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1140) | 69.4 (#1213) |
| Population | 30,904 | 283,506 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $311,050 | $395,976 |
| Median Household Income | $57,444 | $67,432 |
| Average Commute | 24.5 min | 22.8 min |
| Walk Score | 21 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 6.7 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 93 | 102 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+43.9 | D+61.9 |
C-
70 Score
Athens, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$311,050
Population
30,904
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
21
Southeast
View Athens, AL →
D+
69.4 Score
Durham, NC
Bull City innovation and inclusion
Median Home
$395,976
Population
283,506
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Durham, NC →