Median rent is 41% lower in Durham ($1,508/mo vs $2,544/mo). Buying is cheaper in Durham, where the median home runs $392,800 versus $784,700. Households earn more in Santa Clarita ($123,062 vs $81,619 a year).
City A
Durham, NC
City B
Santa Clarita, CA
How much would you need to earn in Santa Clarita, CA to maintain your standard of living from Durham, NC?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Durham
North Carolina
Santa Clarita
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Durham — median rent of $1,508/mo versus $2,544/mo in Santa Clarita, a 41% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Santa Clarita: the median home is $784,700 versus $392,800 in Durham — 50% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Durham
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Santa Clarita
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Durham has cleaner air on average: 33.0 AQI (Good) compared to 60.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Santa Clarita if you prioritize higher median household income ($123,062/yr).
Pick Durham if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,508/mo median).
Pick Durham if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 33.0).
Is Durham cheaper than Santa Clarita?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Durham vs Santa Clarita?
Median rent is $1,508/mo in Durham, NC and $2,544/mo in Santa Clarita, CA. Durham, NC has the lower rent by about 41%.
Which has higher salaries — Durham or Santa Clarita?
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham, NC and $123,062 in Santa Clarita, CA. Santa Clarita, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Durham, NC has better air quality on average: 33.0 AQI versus 60.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Durham or Santa Clarita?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Santa Clarita to match my Durham income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
