Durham, NC vs Ithaca, NY
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
Ithaca leads in walk score (72 vs 33). Durham leads in median household income ($67,432 vs $45,468). Ithaca leads in average commute (18.4 min vs 22.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Ithaca, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 283,506 | 32,724 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $0 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $45,468 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 18.4 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 72 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 5.4 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 117 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | D+50.6 |
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 →
—
Score
Ithaca, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Population
32,724
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
72
Median Income
$45,468
Northeast
View Ithaca, NY →