Durham, NC vs El Centro, CA
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.
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
El Centro leads in walk score (51 vs 33). Durham leads in median household income ($67,432 vs $54,922). Durham leads in cost of living index (102 vs 111).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | El Centro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 70 (#1141) |
| Population | 283,506 | 43,772 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $396,150 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $54,922 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 51 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 9.0 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 111 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | R+0.9 |
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 →
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, CA →