Durham, NC vs Wilmette, IL
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
Wilmette
71
#1040 nationally
Wilmette leads in median household income ($183,750 vs $67,432). Wilmette leads in walk score (58 vs 33). Durham leads in cost of living index (102 vs 162).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Wilmette, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 71 (#1040) |
| Population | 283,506 | 27,026 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $1,007,961 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $183,750 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 35.7 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 58 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 0.6 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 162 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | D+42.0 |
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 →
C-
71 Score
Wilmette, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,007,961
Population
27,026
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
58
Midwest
View Wilmette, IL →