Raleigh and Durham, two cities of North Carolina's famous Research Triangle, each have their distinct advantages and unique qualities. Both Raleigh, the state capital, and Durham, known as the "Bull City," offer southern charm combined with a strong economy and a rich cultural scene. However, the feel, lifestyle, and amenities of the two cities vary greatly, thus making them appeal to different individuals depending on their personal preferences and needs.
Distance between
Raleigh, NC and
Durham, NC : 18.8 miles
Raleigh's population is larger by 64%. Its population has grown by 193,031 people (69.9%) since 2000. The population of Durham has grown by 98,492 people (52.7%) during that time.
In terms of crime and safety, both Raleigh and Durham have areas of strength and concern. While both cities have crime rates higher than the national average, Durham's crime rate is slightly higher than Raleigh's. Initiatives are in place in both cities to improve safety, particularly in downtown areas. It’s advisable for prospective residents and tourists to research and visit different neighborhoods to get a feel for the areas.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 2,161 registered sex offenders living in Raleigh and 389 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Raleigh is 212 to 1; the ratio in Durham is 676 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is much larger in Raleigh than that in Durham.
Cost of Living
Raleigh is generally more expensive than Durham when it comes to cost of living and it dramatically shows in housing costs. However, health care and utilities are slightly cheaper in Raleigh than in Durham. For food and groceries, Durham is typically the cheaper option.
Income Tax
In terms of state income tax, both cities again fall under North Carolina jurisdiction, which has a flat tax rate of 5.25%.
Property Tax
Durham has a higher property tax rate than Raleigh, which can add significantly to the cost of home ownership.
Sales Tax
Both Raleigh and Durham have a state sales tax of 4.75% and a county sales tax of 2%, making their total sales tax 6.75%. Both cities fall under the same tax jurisdiction, as they are in the same state.
Income
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Estimated median household income
$74,612
$71,343
Estimated per capita income
$44,001
$42,469
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
95.1
94.1
If you make $50,000 in Durham, you will have to make $50,531 in Raleigh to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Geographically, both cities are located in the Piedmont region, characterized by relatively flat terrain with some rolling hills. Both cities are about 2-3 hours drive from the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains.
Both cities are part of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, housing some of the nation's top universities. Raleigh is home to NC State University while Durham houses Duke University and North Carolina Central University. Both cities have strong public school systems, although Wake County Public School System in Raleigh is often rated higher than Durham's.
Raleigh has a slightly stronger economy based on lower unemployment rates and higher average salaries. Both cities have a robust job market with healthcare, education, and technology being the dominant sectors. Durham has a vibrant startup scene, particularly in the tech industry.
Biggest Employers
In both cities, the biggest employers are in the healthcare sector. In Raleigh, the WakeMed Health and Hospitals and Rex Healthcare are significant employers while in Durham, Duke University and Duke University Health System are among the largest.
There were 1,354 building permits issued in Raleigh in 2012 (366 more than in 2011) compared to 1,960 building permits issued in Durham in 2012 (1077 more than in 2011).
In Raleigh (Wake County), 54.9% voted for Democrats and 43.5% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Durham (Durham County), 75.8% voted for Democrats and 23.0% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
2020
62.3%
80.5%
35.9%
18.1%
1.8%
1.4%
2016
57.4%
77.7%
37.2%
18.2%
5.5%
4.2%
2012
54.9%
75.8%
43.5%
23.0%
1.6%
1.2%
2008
56.8%
75.8%
42.3%
23.7%
0.9%
0.5%
2004
48.7%
68.0%
50.9%
31.6%
0.4%
0.3%
2000
46.1%
63.8%
53.2%
35.7%
0.7%
0.5%
1996
45.9%
60.8%
48.2%
34.4%
5.9%
4.8%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
CATHOLIC CHURCH
11.0%
3.9%
2.4%
1.3%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
9.0%
9.7%
22.5%
20.3%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.1%
1.0%
1.8%
2.0%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
1.1%
0.7%
1.0%
1.6%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.6%
0.4%
1.1%
1.3%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.4%
3.2%
0.6%
2.9%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.4%
0.1%
0.6%
0.3%
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.2%
0.4%
1.5%
0.3%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.2%
0.4%
1.0%
2.0%
Weather
The weather is comparable in both Raleigh and Durham, with hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters. Both cities experience a fair amount of rainfall throughout the year, although snow is infrequent. Durham, on average, is a little cooler than Raleigh during summer months.
Weather and climate
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Temperature - Average
59.8°F
59°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
73.7%
73.7%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
44%
44%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
90%
90%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
46%
46%
Precipitation - Yearly average
46.2 in
47.5 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
13.4 in
13.4 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
18.5%
18.5%
Sunshine amount - Average
63.9%
63.9%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
13%
13%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
64%
64%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
51%
51%
Wind speed - Average
7.1 mph
7.1 mph
Average climate in Raleigh, North Carolina
Average climate in Durham, North Carolina
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
Raleigh
Durham
2018
71
70
0.23
0.23
4.9
8.0
27.5
27.9
14.6
12.7
9.5
8.8
0.2
0.3
2017
70
68
0.23
0.23
5.5
8.6
25.8
25.8
14.7
13.3
9.3
9.2
0.2
0.2
2016
80
79
0.23
0.23
5.6
8.5
26.9
25.8
8.7
7.9
10.0
9.4
0.3
0.3
2015
79
78
0.27
0.27
5.7
8.9
28.6
27.6
12.4
12.4
11.0
9.0
0.3
0.5
2014
74
74
0.26
0.26
6.0
9.7
29.9
29.7
N/A
N/A
11.2
8.2
0.3
0.3
2013
72
73
0.26
0.26
N/A
N/A
26.9
26.4
N/A
N/A
10.7
8.0
0.4
0.2
2012
80
77
0.28
0.28
N/A
N/A
29.7
29.0
N/A
N/A
9.5
8.4
0.6
0.6
2011
84
83
0.27
0.27
N/A
N/A
32.9
32.0
N/A
N/A
10.3
9.8
0.7
0.7
2010
89
94
0.30
0.30
N/A
N/A
32.4
31.2
N/A
N/A
10.9
10.1
1.0
1.0
2009
77
78
0.30
0.33
N/A
N/A
27.8
25.3
N/A
N/A
10.3
9.8
1.0
1.0
2008
99
95
0.36
0.39
N/A
N/A
32.3
30.1
N/A
N/A
12.5
13.1
1.4
1.5
2007
98
98
0.40
0.40
N/A
N/A
35.7
35.4
N/A
N/A
13.9
13.9
1.2
1.2
2006
90
90
0.44
0.43
N/A
N/A
31.9
30.1
N/A
N/A
13.5
13.5
0.9
0.9
2005
80
73
0.38
0.41
N/A
N/A
33.9
31.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.5
2.5
2004
82
63
0.40
0.44
N/A
N/A
28.4
27.9
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.6
3.7
2003
82
84
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
29.9
29.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.0
3.0
2002
89
89
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
36.1
35.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.6
2.6
2001
128
86
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
34.5
30.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.2
2000
115
102
0.64
0.65
N/A
N/A
34.1
32.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Natural disasters
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
95.1%
84.9%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
52.6%
55.7%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
18%
16%
Transportation
Raleigh's public transport consists of buses, while Durham has a network of buses and a free shuttle in the downtown area. Both cities however are car-dependent and have similar commute times. Plan for a personal vehicle if you are moving to either of these cities.
Transport
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
2
FAA registered aircraft
499
100
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
12
4
Means of transportation to work
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Bicycle
0.2%
0.6%
Bus
1.1%
1.3%
Carpooled
8.5%
9.3%
Car alone
87.4%
84.4%
Motorcycle
0.1%
0.1%
Railroad
0%
0.1%
Taxicab
0.3%
0.2%
Walked
1.1%
2.1%
Average travel time to work
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Average
29.4 min
27.4 min
Other means
22.5 min
21.3 min
Public transportation
39.9 min
36.9 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Average
1.1
1.2
Drove alone
90.1%
89.5%
In 2 person carpool
7.6%
7.9%
In 3 person carpool
1.4%
2.2%
In 4 person carpool
0.3%
0.1%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.6%
0%
In 7+ person carpool
0.1%
0.4%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Raleigh's real estate market is more expensive than Durham's, reflecting its higher cost of living. The median home price in Raleigh is higher than in Durham. Both cities however are experiencing growth and increasing home values.
Neighborhoods
Both Raleigh and Durham have a variety of neighborhoods, each with its distinct flavor. Raleigh has the hip Warehouse District and historic Oakwood, while Durham boasts the revitalized downtown area and Old West Durham. Both cities offer a mix of suburban and urban living options.
Houses and residents
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Houses
217,866
131,917
Average household size (people)
2.4
2.3
Median year apartment built
1995
1994
Median year house/condo built
1995
1995
Length of stay in the house since moving in
11.5 years
10.7 years
Houses occupied
194,917 (89.5%)
122,412 (92.8%)
Houses occupied by owners
103,367 (53%)
62,550 (51.1%)
Houses occupied by renters
91,550 (47%)
59,862 (48.9%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,740
$2,314
Median monthly housing costs
$1,298
$1,261
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$302,120
$117,283
Estimated median house or condo value
$340,200
$325,000
Median numbers of rooms
5.1
5.1
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.9
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.7
6.6
Median house price - detached houses
$446,507
$361,977
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$403,968
$169,611
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$170,635
$259,774
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$306,998
$194,008
Median house price - mobile homes
$31,622
$83,086
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$292,086
$286,940
Median house price - All housing units
$404,828
$350,027
Median house age
26
26
Renting percentage
46.5%
50.2%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,901.1
1,394
House value disparities
30.8%
29.7%
Household income disparities
45.4%
44.4%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$114,680
$106,360
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$81,716
$79,496
Housing units without a mortgage
1,689 (2.1%)
1,538 (3.1%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
6,627 (8.2%)
3,157 (6.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
78,923 (97.9%)
47,533 (96.9%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
0 (0%)
99 (0.2%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
7,783 (9.7%)
3,728 (7.6%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
8
6
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
0.6%
1.1%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.5%
0.6%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Raleigh
Durham
One, detached
45.0%
50.1%
One, attached
14.0%
9.8%
Two
1.2%
2.5%
3 or 4
4.6%
5.2%
5 to 9
6.3%
8.5%
10 to 19
12.4%
11.1%
20 to 49
6.0%
4.5%
50 or more
9.2%
8.1%
Mobile homes
1.2%
0.3%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
12,488
5,381
State government workers
19,792
13,743
Unpaid family workers
523
371
Industries and Occupations
The dominant industries in both cities are healthcare, education, and technology. Durham is known for having a vibrant tech startup scene, while Raleigh has a well-established tech industry with companies such as IBM and Cisco. The Research Triangle Park, common to both cities, is one of the largest research parks in the world housing many high-tech companies.
Both cities provide robust healthcare with several well-regarded hospitals. However, Duke Hospital in Durham is nationally recognized and highly rated. Raleigh also has fantastic health care facilities, but not on the national recognition scale that Duke has.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Raleigh
Durham
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Raleigh, as a state capital, has a more established infrastructure with larger buildings and multiple downtown areas. Durham, however, has been investing significantly in its infrastructure, with plenty of renovations and newly built structures appearing in recent years.
Infrastructure
Type
Raleigh
Durham
Hospitals
19
18
TV stations
20
25
Arenas or stadiums
3
1
Bank branches located here
136
63
Bank institutions located here
27
14
Main business address for public companies
21
7
Nuclear power plants nearby
1
0
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
2
2
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Raleigh
Durham
1999
1,618
991
2000
890
666
2001
557
510
2002
510
440
2003
564
369
2004
700
485
2005
1,083
593
2006
1,097
846
2007
859
610
2008
424
231
2009
253
144
Culture and Food
Both cities have rich cultural scenes, but with a different focus. Raleigh is known for its high-quality museums, while Durham is known for its performing arts scene. Food-wise, both cities have a thriving food scene with Raleigh considered a haven for foodies and Durham, known for its BBQ and soul food.
Sports Teams
While both cities have minor league baseball teams, the Durham Bulls are more widely recognized. Raleigh is home to North Carolina FC and the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes.
Raleigh, NC
Durham, NC
Raleigh, NC and 
Durham, NC : 18.8 miles
