In comparing Durham vs. Raleigh, you will find two cities that are so close they are often referred to as one. But don’t ask someone from Durham if they live in “Raleigh-Durham,” because the cities are very different, despite their close proximity.
This comprehensive comparison will highlight the similarities and differences that make these vibrant cities tick. Whether you are considering a move or simply curious to understand the differences between Bull City (Durham) and the City of Oaks (Raleigh), buckle and enjoy the journey.
Which Is Best? Durham vs. Raleigh
In some ways, Durham and Raleigh are very similar. They are only a few miles apart, home to top-tier research universities, and are central to two vertices forming the Research Triangle.
And yet, when you compare Raleigh vs. Durham, you realize they are also very different. For instance, Raleigh is the state capital, home to many state agencies, and the location of multiple museums and attractions.
In contrast, Durham is known as the “Center of Medicine” because it is home to more than 500 Life Science companies. Of course, this is an interesting contrast for a city and region that previously thrived on the tobacco industry.
This tale of two cities offers quite a few similarities but just as many differences, so let’s dive in to explore the region more.
Job Market, Economy & Industries
There is some crossover in the Raleigh and Durham economies. After all, both cities are major parts of the Research Triangle. Still, the nuances are worth exploring.
Where is Research Triangle Park?
The Research Triangle Park is in Durham and Wake counties but is technically an incorporated area. State law prohibits the nearby cities from annexing any portion of the Park. Still, downtown Durham is only about four miles from the RTP, as it is known, so some may refer to the park as in Durham, even though it’s technically not.
The broader term of ‘Research Triangle’ more generally refers to the region as an extension of the Park. On the other hand, Research Triangle Park is a specific place.
The Research Triangle Park covers more than 7,000 acres and is home to 300 companies. This makes the RTP the largest research park in the United States, and that’s a pretty big deal.
Tech and Start-up Scene
The broader Triangle region is often one of the nation’s fastest-growing economies. Thanks in large part to big tech players and the burgeoning start-up scene.
Still, the tricky part here is deciphering whether to attribute some of the large job gains to Durham or Raleigh. Local residents may resent hearing the broader region referred to as the “Raleigh-Durham” area. Still, the reality is that Research Triangle Park creates a situation where this is natural.
Take Apple, for instance. Apple is building a $1 BILLION campus in the RTP, an unincorporated area, but the campus will be in Wake County. While the RTP is only 4 miles from Durham, which is in Durham County, Apple’s new campus will sit in Wake Country, where Raleigh is located.
Of course, Google opened its engineering hub in downtown Durham, so there are clear wins for each city. But even then, Google’s announcement referenced the “Triangle region” rather than Durham specifically.
All of this top-level talent results in a healthy startup community. Crunchbase reports 400 organizations founded in the Research Triangle hub, representing 1,000 funding rounds and $5.3B in total funding.
It’s a far cry from Silicon Valley, but these start-up levels still represent a healthy and growing region.
So in comparing Durham vs. Raleigh, which is better for tech and startups? The reality is that this category might be a push because of the RTP.
Other Major Industries
Outside of tech, Durham is well positioned as a leader in Life Sciences, thanks in large part to “Duke Med” and Duke University’s reputation as a leading private research university. Advanced manufacturing is also big in Durham, but healthcare and life sciences are the city’s bread and butter.
In contrast, Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, so governmental services are one of the main drivers for the city’s employment base. Additionally, Raleigh is home to TEN universities and colleges, so the education sector is also a major employer.
Downtown Raleigh is also home to a professional scene, with offices for big companies like Duke Energy and for professional service firms like major public accounting firms.
Culture and Entertainment – Comparing Durham vs. Raleigh
When it comes to culture and entertainment, it is a little easier to start comparing Raleigh vs. Durham. Each city has distinct programming, which drives much of the local identity that starts the separate the border region into proudly different cities.
Performing Arts, Museums & More
Durham and Raleigh both have burgeoning arts and culture scenes.
Downtown Durham hosts a city-wide art gallery crawl on the third Friday of each month. The innovative event offers a unique opportunity for Durham to showcase itself and for the community to interact with art culture.
While exploring the art scene, we recommend checking out the Durham Arts Council, which has classes and camps designed to support the arts. Naturally, it also offers art exhibits for you to explore.
You can also catch Broadway shows at the Durham Performing Art Center, commonly referred to as DPAC. There are several publications that rank DPAC above the storied Ryman Auditorium as a live event venue.
Not to be outdone, Raleigh has the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Carolina Ballet, NC Opera, and NC Symphony all call the Martin Marietta Center home. And the Martin Marietta Center hosts Broadway shows, too.
Plus, an organization called PineCone uses the Martin Marietta Center to promote traditional music, dance, and other folk arts.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of History, and the North Carolina Museum of Art all find their home in Raleigh. It is the state capital, after all.
In comparing, Raleigh vs. Durham, Raleigh comes out on top partly because of the sheer number of event centers and museums. Still, Durham throws a heavy punch.
Professional Sports
Raleigh is home to the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, and there is a major push within the city to land an MLB team eventually. We will see if that happens, but Raleigh’s underdog status in professional sports is one reason that Raleigh is often compared to Charlotte.
Charlotte, which is 2.5 hours away, is home to the Carolina Panthers (NFL), Charlotte Hornets (NBA), and Charlotte FC (MLS). Charlotte offers plenty of things to do, but Raleigh and Durham hold their own.
Still, Caniacs represent the city of Raleigh well and show that it very well could support an MLB team one day if a leading investor doesn’t present itself from Charlotte.
Have you ever seen the movie Bull Durham featuring Kevin Costner? The movie is a romantic drama centered around the minor-league Durham Bulls. Durham has no major league presence, like in Raleigh, but people still love this baseball team.
Living in Durham vs. Raleigh – Which Lifestyle is Right For You?
In one sense, when you live in Durham or Raleigh, you get the benefits of living in the broader Triangle region. There are always things to do, and the two cities are only 25 miles apart.
On the other hand, both cities offer plenty to do on their own. The Carolinas are famous for good food, and Raleigh and Durham offer plenty for the foodie’s soul too.
Recreation and Outdoor Activities
Just outside of Durham, toward Chapel Hill, you will find the ever-popular Eno River State Park. The park features five access points (it’s big), including access to a 13-mile hike at Fews Ford and a 6-mile hike at Cole Mill.
Eno River State Park is also known for camping, paddling, and fishing. For those interested in camping, know that the campsites are accessible via backpacking only. The namesake river is known for its scenic views, including the Cascades.
Pullen Park is perhaps Raleigh’s best-known park, and for a good reason. You can rent a pedal boat, ride a carousel, swim, or hit the ballfield at Pullen Park.
And Pullen Park has an interesting history, too. It is the first public park in North Carolina and one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the entire country.
Raleigh also maintains more than 100 miles of paved greenways throughout the city.
Events and Festivals
One of the most cultured annual events in Durham is the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. The festival is hosted by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.
Full Frame is an Academy Award-qualifying festival that screens around 100 movies. More than 10,000 people usually attend the event each year, including international visitors. For these reasons, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham is considered a premier showcase for nonfiction films.
In contrast, Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Festival offers something completely different. The Hopscotch Music Festival is a three-day musical event that happens annually in Raleigh. The event generally hosts at least 120 bands across an eclectic variety of genres.
These events represent an interesting paradigm and insight into why it is so hard to distinguish Raleigh culture from Durham culture. To this point, Raleigh runs on government workers and professional services, which are very buttoned up, yet it has a grassroots-type annual music festival.
In comparing Durham vs. Raleigh, there are dozens upon dozens of annual events, but these two events offer unique insight into the local cultures.
Education and Medical Resources
Education and medical resources are where both Durham and Raleigh start to punch well above their weight.
Duke University is one of the highest-rated private institutions of higher education in the country. It is also home to Duke Med. Duke is a top ten medical school for research, which is of massive benefit to the surrounding region.
Down in Raleigh, NC State University ranks in the top 1% of universities worldwide, according to the Center for World University Rankings.
Also, keep in mind that when discussing major employers, we previously mentioned that Raleigh is home to TEN universities and colleges.
Together, Duke, NC State University, and UNC Chapel Hill form the broader Research Triangle. The world-renowned center for research and innovation is a major driver for the Triangle Region’s economy. It’s also an important center for innovation in the broader United States ecosystem.
Demographics & Cost of Living
From a population standpoint, Raleigh is much larger, but they are both top-5 cities in North Carolina. Charlotte leads the way, with a population of more than 900,000. Raleigh follows Charlotte, with a population approaching 500,000. Greensboro is just slightly larger than Durham, and Durham has about 300,000 residents.
Durham tends to offer a slightly more diverse population. Around 39% of residents in Durham are White, and another 39% are African-American. Additionally, 14% are Hispanic.
Comparatively, more than 50% of Raleigh is White, 28% is African-American, and 11% is Hispanic. While the cities are culturally fairly similar, the demographic differences are worth noting.
In regards to the cost of living, Raleigh is just slightly higher than the national average, while Durham is just slightly below. The most notable difference is that housing is slightly more expensive in Raleigh than in Durham.
Should You Choose Durham or Raleigh?
In comparing Durham vs. Raleigh, you understand why many people think of the Triangle as one region instead of separate cities. Still, there are notable differences. Durham is a medical and life sciences juggernaut, while Raleigh leads the way with the state government and professional services.
As the capital, Raleigh is a little more buttoned up, whereas Durham retains much of its character and history. Look no further than the American Tobacco Campus to see how Durham melds its past and future.
Raleigh Skyline at Night
The Verdict: Raleigh or Durham?
While the region works as one from an economic perspective, Raleigh and Durham are two very different cities. Raleigh is a little more institutional and professional, while Durham carries a little more of that trendy start-up vibe. Combined, the Triangle is a powerhouse region.
In comparing Raleigh vs. Durham, the difference largely amounts to personality. Raleigh’s downtown area is more developed and is home to some major museums.
On the other hand, the American Tobacco Campus is a fun adaptive reuse in downtown Durham that is next to the Durham Bulls’ stadium and a short walk from the Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative.
So, choose Raleigh if you are looking for a place that is a more institutional and business professional, and Durham if you are looking for a more trendy vibe.
