Uprootmap
Boston vs Durham
Boston and Durham
Photo: unknown / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Durham are above the US rate in this release, 8.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Boston to Durham
In 2022-2023, 273 households filed a move from Boston to Durham (about 359 people, average adjusted gross income $104,447). 272 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,549 in Boston and $1,274 in Durham. Boston has a state tax on wages. Durham has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Durham is 98% of the national level for the same work, against 116% in Boston.
Durham averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 37°F. Boston is 200 sunny days, 82°F in July, 23°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Durham and 31 in Boston.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 273 households moved Boston → Durham (about 359 people, average AGI $104,447). 272 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Boston and Durham changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 748 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,600–$4,900
- Container or pod
- $1,800–$3,400
- Rent a truck
- $900–$1,700
Explore more
Dig into Durham
Questions
Is Durham cheaper than Boston after tax and rent?
Yes. Durham leaves about $1,645 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,549 in Boston and $1,274 in Durham.
Does Durham have state income tax?
Durham is in North Carolina, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Boston to Durham?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.