Population

Durham

288,465

Boston

663,972

Median Income

Durham

$79,234

Boston

$94,755

Home Value

Durham

$355,300

Boston

$710,400

Rent

Durham

$1,412

Boston

$2,093

Crime Rate

Durham

6.21

Boston

6.28

Cost of Living

Durham

133.1

Boston

180.6

Avg Temp

Durham

N/A

Boston

50°F

Unemployment

Durham

4.2%

Boston

6.0%

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How Similar Are Durham & Boston?

Boston is Durham's #19 most similar city

3/10

3 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Durham

288,465

vs

Boston

663,972

Different · 57% difference

Boston (663,972) is about 2.3x larger than Durham (288,465).

Violent Crime

Durham

6.21

vs

Boston

6.28

Match · 1% difference
🚨

Both cities have similar violent crime — just a 1% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Durham

38.00

vs

Boston

20.22

Different · 47% difference

Durham has a 47% higher property crime than Boston.

Political Leaning

Durham

18.2%

vs

Boston

22.4%

Different · 19% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Boston has a stronger Democratic lean (19% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Durham

4.2%

vs

Boston

6.0%

Different · 31% difference

Boston has a 31% higher unemployment than Durham.

Median Income

Durham

$79,234

vs

Boston

$94,755

Different · 16% difference
💰

Boston has a 16% higher median income than Durham.

Home Values

🏠

Durham

$355,300

vs

Boston

$710,400

Different · 50% difference

Boston has a 50% higher home values than Durham.

Education

Durham

38.2%

vs

Boston

38.0%

Match · 1% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 1% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Durham

44.0%

vs

Boston

47.8%

Match · 8% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 8% difference.

Cost of Living

Durham

133.1

vs

Boston

180.6

Different · 26% difference
💵

Boston has a 26% higher cost of living than Durham.

3 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Durham and Boston differ in most key areas.

At a Glance

0

Durham

vsof 8

0

Boston

Durham leads in 3 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Durham leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Durham has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,711 vs $2,941 in Boston (42% lower). Durham scores 164.2 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 272.1 in Boston. Durham has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,507 vs $2,476 in Boston (39% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Durham133.1
Boston180.6

Housing Index

Durham164.2
Boston272.1

Food Index

Durham110.6
Boston122.4

Transportation Index

Durham121.1
Boston124.4

Healthcare Index

Durham108.4
Boston117.9

Utilities Index

Durham119.2
Boston147.9

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Durham$58,580
Boston$79,458

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Durham$138,461
Boston$187,809

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Durham$1,507
Boston$2,476

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Durham$1,711
Boston$2,941

Housing Market — Durham leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Durham has a single-family homes of 61.6% compared to 18.2% in Boston. Boston has a median home value of $710,400 vs $355,300 in Durham (50% higher). Durham has a owner-occupied of 51.8% compared to 35.4% in Boston.

Median Home Value

Durham$355,300
Boston$710,400

Median Rent

Durham$1,412
Boston$2,093

Median Property Tax

Durham$3,115
Boston$4,335

Owner-Occupied

Durham51.8%
Boston35.4%

Vacancy Rate

Durham7.2%
Boston9.3%

Single-Family Homes

Durham61.6%
Boston18.2%

Jobs & Economy — Boston leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Boston: 403,888 vs Durham: 163,490 for labor force. Durham has a unemployment rate of 4.2% compared to 6.0% in Boston. Durham has a poverty rate of 12.2% compared to 16.9% in Boston.

Median Household Income

Durham$79,234
Boston$94,755

Per Capita Income

Durham$47,246
Boston$60,001

Poverty Rate

Durham12.2%
Boston16.9%

Unemployment Rate

Durham4.2%
Boston6.0%

Labor Force

Durham163,490
Boston403,888

Mean Commute

DurhamN/A
Boston25 min

Work from Home

Durham20.6%
Boston18.8%

Private Sector

Durham82.7%
Boston82.4%

Government Sector

Durham40.0%
Boston41.1%

Crime & Safety — Boston leads

Source: FBI UCR

Boston has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.04 compared to 0.12 in Durham. Boston has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 1.78 compared to 4.50 in Durham. Boston has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 20.22 compared to 38.00 in Durham.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Durham6.21
Boston6.28

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Durham38.00
Boston20.22

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Durham0.12
Boston0.04

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Durham1.61
Boston1.26

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Durham3.89
Boston4.72

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Durham4.50
Boston1.78

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Durham27.25
Boston16.87

Violent Crime Clearance

Durham30.9%
Boston31.1%

Property Crime Clearance

Durham8.8%
Boston5.7%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

DurhamN/A
Boston50°F

Avg Annual High

DurhamN/A
Boston59°F

Avg Annual Low

DurhamN/A
Boston43°F

Sunny Days per Year

DurhamN/A
Boston200

Annual Rainfall

DurhamN/A
Boston38.6"

Annual Snowfall

DurhamN/A
Boston16.5"

Avg Humidity

DurhamN/A
Boston71.6%

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Boston has a high school diploma or higher of 50.8% compared to 48.7% in Durham.

Public Schools

Durham0
Boston0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

DurhamN/A
BostonN/A

Colleges & Universities

Durham0
Boston0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Durham38.2%
Boston38.0%

High School Diploma or Higher

Durham48.7%
Boston50.8%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Boston has a population of 663,972, about 2.3x the size of Durham (288,465). Boston skews younger with a median age of 33.2 vs 34.8.

Population

Durham288,465
Boston663,972

Median Age

Durham35
Boston33

Avg Household Size

Durham2.3
Boston2.2

Married Population

Durham35.1%
Boston29.0%

Foreign Born

Durham15.3%
Boston27.5%

White

Durham44.0%
Boston47.8%

Black

Durham34.4%
Boston21.5%

Hispanic

Durham14.7%
Boston18.9%

Asian

Durham5.6%
Boston10.0%

Durham

Boston

Healthcare — Durham leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Durham: 4.5 vs Boston: 3.7 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Durham5
Boston5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Durham4.5
Boston3.7

With Emergency Services

Durham4
Boston4

Transportation & Commute

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Durham has a drive alone of 65.2% compared to 34.1% in Boston. Boston has a public transit of 24.0% compared to 2.2% in Durham. Boston has a bicycle of 2.1% compared to 0.5% in Durham.

Mean Commute Time

DurhamN/A
Boston25 min

Drive Alone

Durham65.2%
Boston34.1%

Public Transit

Durham2.2%
Boston24.0%

Bicycle

Durham0.5%
Boston2.1%

Work from Home

Durham20.6%
Boston18.8%

Airports

Durham0
Boston0

Cities Similar to Durham, NC

Compare Durham against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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