Durham, NC vs Helena, AL
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
Helena
74.5
#582 nationally
Durham leads in walk score (33 vs 12). Helena leads in median household income ($107,360 vs $67,432). Durham leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 30.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Helena, AL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 74.5 (#582) |
| Population | 283,506 | 22,117 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $367,018 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $107,360 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 30.4 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 12 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 2.0 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 101 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | R+40.8 |
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
74.5 Score
Helena, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$367,018
Population
22,117
Crime
Low
Walk Score
12
Southeast
View Helena, AL →