MetricDurham, NCApex, NC
Population291,46770,630
Median Household Income$81,619$144,135
Median Rent$1,508/mo$1,902/mo
Median Home Value$392,800$576,100
Cost of Living (US = 100)9898
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income46.3%43.2%
Poverty Rate11.7%2.2%
Unemployment Rate3.4%3%
Violent Crime Rate /100k50753
Property Crime Rate /100k3,599801
Median AQI4243
Good AQI Days /yr262250
Summer Highs85°F87°F
Winter Lows30°F33°F
Snowfall5 in/yr5 in/yr
Avg Commute22.3 min25.2 min
Hospitals4—
Avg Hospital Rating4.7 / 5—
Students per Teacher14.817.1
College Degree Rate57.3%69.5%
Foreign-Born %15.4%20.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+7.6%+24.9%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.