Denton vs Durham
The short version
- Durham is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 5% lower than in the Denton area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $348,200 in Denton and $392,800 in Durham.
- Households earn more in Durham ($81,619 vs $76,019 median).
- Denton has more scorching days: 104 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 52.
- Denton is growing faster: +21.1% since 2020 vs +7.6%.
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; North Carolina's top rate is 3.99%.
Side by side
| Denton, TX | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 169,431 | 305,561 |
| Growth since 2020 | +21.1% | +7.6% |
| People per square mile | 1,748 | 2,571 |
| Median age | 31.4 | 35.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42% | 57% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $76,019 | $81,619 |
| Median home value | $348,200 | $392,800 |
| Home value to income | 4.6× | 4.8× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,420 | $1,508 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 103.1 | 97.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 117.9 | 98.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $77,300 | $73,200 |
| Homeowners | 50% | 52% |
| Top state income tax | None | 3.99% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.2% | 7.1% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 23.7 | 22.3 |
| Work from home | 14% | 23% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.1% | 3.8% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 11.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 56° / 32° | 52° / 32° |
| July high / low | 96° / 73° | 91° / 70° |
| Precipitation per year | 36 in | 46 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 5 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 104 | 52 |
| Nights below freezing | 52 | 65 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.9 | 89.6 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 28% | 72% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.5% | +1.8% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +35.4% | +47.6% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Denton: March to April and October to November. Durham: April to May and October.
Full monthly tables: Denton weather by month and Durham weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $77,300 in Denton and $73,200 in Durham. Moving from Denton to Durham, you would need about $71,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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