Durham, NC vs Fairhope, AL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
Fairhope
69
#1262 nationally
Fairhope leads in median household income ($85,456 vs $67,432). Durham leads in cost of living index (102 vs 118). Durham leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 24.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Fairhope, AL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 69 (#1262) |
| Population | 283,506 | 24,974 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $473,256 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $85,456 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 3.0 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | R+58.2 |
Data coverage note: Fairhope is missing data for 1 metric that Durham has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D+
69.4 Score
Durham, NC
Bull City innovation and inclusion
Median Home
$395,976
Population
283,506
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Durham, NC →
D+
69 Score
Fairhope, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$473,256
Population
24,974
Crime
Low
Median Income
$85,456
Southeast
View Fairhope, AL →