Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Durham to New York
Comparing Durham, North Carolina, and New York, New York, using 2024 ACS 5-year estimates reveals distinct cost, income, and commute tradeoffs. Durham features a population of 291,467, a median household income of $81,619, a median gross rent of $1,508, a median home value of $392,800, and a 24-minute commute. New York supports a population of 8,483,844, a median household income of $80,483, a median gross rent of $1,821, a median home value of $777,600, and a 44-minute commute. While median incomes are comparable between the two cities, Durham offers lower median gross rent and home values alongside a shorter commute. New York incorporates a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 5.50%, whereas Durham's state income tax is excluded due to lack of approved official reference. Neither citywide dataset evaluates neighborhood safety, schools, weather, insurance, or job quality.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → DurhamMoving from Durham to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$313/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$3,756 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+20 min / day
Difference of ~167 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTDUR → NYC
40/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$2,468after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Durham is about $3,756 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Durham household income$81,619
New York household income$80,483
Durham gross rent$1,508
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Durham | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 291,467 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $81,619 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,508 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $392,800 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 24 minutes in Durham and 44 minutes in New York. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Population scale difference
- Median gross rent variance
- Owner-occupied home value gap
- Derived one-way commute length
What each city wins
Durham
A median household income of $81,619 alongside a median home value of $392,800.. Watch a 24-minute derived commute estimate against citywide housing costs..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How do median gross rents compare between Durham and New York?
According to 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Durham has a median gross rent of $1,508 per month, whereas New York has a median gross rent of $1,821 per month. Note that ACS figures represent citywide medians and are not live asking rents.
What is the difference in median home values and commutes?
Durham features a median owner-occupied home value of $392,800 and a derived one-way commute of 24 minutes. New York records a median owner-occupied home value of $777,600 and a derived one-way commute of 44 minutes.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.