Uprootmap
Durham vs Boston
Durham and Boston
Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Boston are under the US rate in this release, 2.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Durham to Boston
In 2022-2023, 272 households filed a move from Durham to Boston (about 345 people, average adjusted gross income $80,735). 273 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,274 in Durham and $2,549 in Boston. Durham has a state tax on wages. Boston has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Boston is 116% of the national level for the same work, against 98% in Durham.
Boston averages 200 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 23°F. Durham is 222 sunny days, 89°F in July, 37°F in January. Commutes average 31 minutes in Boston and 24 in Durham.
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, 272 households moved Durham → Boston (about 345 people, average AGI $80,735). 273 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 Durham and Boston 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
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Dig into Boston
Questions
Is Boston cheaper than Durham after tax and rent?
No. Boston leaves about $1,645 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,274 in Durham and $2,549 in Boston.
Does Boston have state income tax?
Boston is in Massachusetts, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Durham to Boston?
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.