Durham, NC vs Raleigh, 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.
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Raleigh leads in median household income ($82,424 vs $67,432). Raleigh leads in school rating (7.5 vs 6.4). Durham leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 24.3 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 71 (#1035) |
| Population | 283,506 | 470,763 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $435,237 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $82,424 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 24.3 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 31 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 32.0 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | 7.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | D+25.6 |
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 →
C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, NC →