Best Durham to San Francisco Movers and Practical Moving Guide
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Moving from the academic and historic charm of Durham to the innovative heart of Silicon Valley represents an exciting leap into a new chapter of your life. You're trading Bull City's laid-back vibes for San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate views and bustling tech hubs. Recognizing the importance of this significant transition, it's crucial you entrust your move to professional movers we've rigorously evaluated to ensure your journey from coast to coast is in the most reliable hands.
Best Durham to San Francisco Moving Companies
| Company Name | Rating  | BBB Rating | License | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCD Moving Services LLC | 9.66 | A+ | Authorized For HHG | Contact |
| Raleigh Moving Company | 9.42 | NR | Active | Contact |
| Athens Moving Experts | 9.34 | A+ | Authorized For HHG | Contact |
| Bay - L.A. Express Moving | 9.32 | D | Authorized For HHG | Contact |
| Capital Moving & Storage | 9.26 | NR | Authorized For HHG | Contact |
(800) 787-5428
Moving in the opposite direction? Here is our moving from San Francisco to Durham guide.
5 Best Durham to San Francisco Moving Companies
These are the top recommended movers based on our unbiased & regularly updated ranking algorithm (NOT paid promotions)
About OCD Moving Services LLC
For over five years, OCD Moving Services LLC has been providing Oakland and the Bay Area with residential and commercial relocation services...Read More >>
Services
- Local Moving
- Long Distance Moving
- Commercial Moving
About Raleigh Moving Company
Raleigh Moving Company is a locally owned and operated moving company offering residential and commercial services for local and long-distan...Read More >>
Services
- Free estimates
- Full Value Protection (FVP)
- Fully licensed and insured
Interstate Moving License
USDOT / MC Status Entity Type | 3344628 / - Active Carrier |
| Registered Trucks/Vans | 1 |
| Registered Drivers | 2 |
| Total Annual Miles Moved | - |
This listing has been claimed by Athens Moving ExpertsAbout Athens Moving Experts
Since 2015, Athens Moving Experts has helped Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, and communities across North Carolina with their residenti...Read More >>
Services
- Local Moving Services
- Long Distance Moving Services
- Commercial Moving Services
About Bay - L.A. Express Moving
Bay-L.A. Express Moving is a professional moving company that serves Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the entire Bay Area. Specializing in mo...Read More >>
Services
- Long-distance moving
- Small relocation
- Full packing services
About Capital Moving & Storage
Capital Moving & Storage, a family-owned company based in Raleigh, NC, has been providing high-quality moving services for over 20 years. Th...Read More >>
Services
- Residential & Commercial Moving
- Local & Long Distance Moving
- Packing
Dependable Rankings You Can Count On!
Our rankings are data-driven — movers cannot purchase a spot on our list. Here's why you can have confidence in our recommendations:
- No Paid Placements: Every company earns its spot through merit, not payment.
- Extensive Analysis: Evaluated over 24,000 movers across the country for our rankings.
Dependable Rankings You Can Count On!
Our rankings are data-driven — movers cannot purchase a spot on our list. Here's why you can have confidence in our recommendations:
- No Paid Placements: Every company earns its spot through merit, not payment.
- Extensive Analysis: Evaluated over 24,000 movers across the country for our rankings.
Durham vs. San Francisco Neighborhood Comparison
Comparing neighborhoods between cities can be a powerful tool in making a new place feel like home. This guide uses Durham, NC & San Francisco, CA comparison of the local neighborhoods to help you find your new favorite area based on what you love about your current city. Whether you're searching for vibrant nightlife, serene parks, or historic charm, we've got you covered.
| Durham | San Francisco | How They're Similar |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Durham | SoMa | Bustling tech hub, vibrant nightlife |
| Treyburn | Sea Cliff | Exclusive, picturesque views |
| Trinity Park | Haight-Ashbury | Historic, diverse community vibes |
| Old West Durham | The Mission | Eclectic mix of dining & culture |
| Hope Valley | Pacific Heights | Upscale homes, quiet streets |
| American Tobacco District | Embarcadero | Waterfront views, food & entertainment |
| Brightleaf | North Beach | Historic, lively culinary scene |
| Woodcroft | Inner Sunset | Family-friendly, great parks |
| Rockwood | Cole Valley | Quaint, with a small-town feel |
| Watts-Hillandale | Noe Valley | Peaceful, community-oriented |
While each neighborhood in Durham and San Francisco has its unique charm, several stand out for their direct parallels. For instance, both the American Tobacco District in Durham and the Embarcadero in San Francisco offer waterfront dining and entertainment, creating vibrant areas for locals and visitors alike. If you're drawn to the historic and diverse vibe of Trinity Park, you might find Haight-Ashbury's blend of history, diversity, and community-oriented spaces equally appealing. Lastly, those who appreciate the family-friendly atmosphere and green spaces of Woodcroft will likely enjoy the Inner Sunset's plethora of parks, including the nearby Golden Gate Park, and its assortment of family-friendly restaurants and businesses.
Ready to start your move?
Pros and Cons of Moving from Durham to San Francisco
Moving across the country offers both exciting opportunities and daunting challenges. This guide aims to provide an honest reflection of the good and the bad attributes of relocating from Durham, NC to San Francisco, CA . By comparing the contrasting aspects, you can make a well-informed decision on whether this significant life change aligns with your lifestyle and aspirations.
Durham, NC- Less cultural diversity
- Humid Summers
- More affordable housing
- Smaller job market
- Limited public transportation
San Francisco, CA- Rich cultural diversity
- Mild climate
- Higher cost of living
- Expansive job opportunities
- Extensive public transit
San Francisco, CA- Expensive housing
- Faster pace of life
- Smaller living spaces
- More impersonal
- Scarce parking
Durham, NC- Lower cost of living
- Relaxed pace of life
- Spacious living options
- Local community feel
- Ample parking
Opting to move from Durham, NC, to San Francisco, CA, bears significant lifestyle and financial implications. The weather in San Francisco is milder, offering a respite from Durham's humid summers, but this comes with a higher cost of living, notably in housing. San Francisco's bustling economy in tech and startups presents more job opportunities compared to Durham's smaller market. However, the Bay Area's richness in cultural activities, like visiting the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, exploring the diverse neighborhoods like the Mission District with its vibrant street murals and bustling markets such as the Ferry Building Marketplace, or enjoying the outdoors in Golden Gate Park, significantly enhances living experiences. Deciding on this move means weighing these factors carefully against your personal priorities and lifestyle preferences.
Durham vs. San Francisco Food Guide
Understanding local cuisine is crucial to getting the real taste of a place's culture. In this guide, we'll compare the local cuisine between Durham, NC, and San Francisco, CA to better inform you about the food scene in your new city.
| Durham | San Francisco | |
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Pulled pork BBQ | Sourdough bread |
| Most popular meat dish | North Carolina BBQ ribs | Seafood Cioppino |
| Most popular street food item | Fried chicken biscuits | Mission Burrito |
| Most popular vegan food | Barbecue jackfruit | Vegan ramen |
| Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the city |
|
|
| Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
| Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
| Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
| Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
Upon moving to San Francisco, you'll find an impressively diverse and health-conscious food scene. Neighborhoods like the Mission District are famous for their street food, particularly the Mission Burrito, a must-try local classic. San Francisco is also renowned for its sourdough bread, with historic spots like Tartine Bakery offering some of the best in the city. Vegan and vegetarian options are abundant and innovative, with places like The Slanted Door providing plant-based dishes that don't compromise on flavor. The high rating in the foodie scene reflects San Francisco's commitment to quality, creativity, and variety in its culinary offerings.
Durham vs. San Francisco Restaurant Comparison
Finding a new favorite eatery can turn a city into a home. This restaurant comparison from Durham to San Francisco aims to ease your transition by matching your current favorites with future go-tos. Let the flavors guide you home.
| Durham | San Francisco | What You'll Love |
|---|---|---|
| Mothers & Sons Trattoria | Seven Hills | Refined Italian dishes in a cozy setting, reminiscent of Durham's love for European cuisine. |
| Pizzeria Toro | Tony’s Pizza Napoletana | Award-winning spot offering a similar devotion to high-quality, wood-fired pizzas. |
| Mateo Bar de Tapas | Coqueta | A vibrant selection of Spanish tapas and cocktails that channels Mateo’s energetic social dining experience. |
| Bull City Burger and Brewery | Gott’s Roadside | Both spots celebrate the art of the burger with a commitment to local ingredients and craft brews. |
| Dashi | Ramenwell | Offering inventive ramen with deep flavors, matching Dashi’s approach to Japanese comfort food. |
| Backyard BBQ Pit | 4505 Burgers & BBQ | A similar dedication to smoked meats and barbecue traditions with a West Coast twist. |
| The Pit | Smokestack at Magnolia Brewing | Both pride themselves on regional BBQ styles, with a refined selection of beers. |
| NanaSteak | Harris’ Steakhouse | An institution of steak craftmanship offering a parallel fine dining experience to NanaSteak’s elegance. |
| Lantern | State Bird Provisions | Creative Asian American cuisine with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients, akin to Lantern’s philosophy. |
| Elmo's Diner | Dottie’s True Blue Café | A casual, comfort food haven reminiscent of Elmo’s, perfect for breakfast or a homey meal. |
Upon moving to San Francisco, your culinary explorations don't have to start from scratch. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, with its diverse menu of wood-fired pizzas, mirrors the level of craftsmanship and dedication to quality ingredients that you cherished at Pizzeria Toro. For those who relish in the comforting embrace of ramen, Ramenwell stands as a beacon for intricate bowls of warmth and flavor, echoing Dashi’s crafted approach to noodly bliss. Those longing for the convivial tapas atmosphere of Mateo Bar de Tapas will find solace at Coqueta, where every bite and sip transport your senses to the vibrant streets of Spain, all while encapsulating the communal dining spirit found in Durham’s food scene.
Ready to start your move?
Durham vs. San Francisco Real Estate & Living Facts
Real estate plays a pivotal role in relocating, highlighting the importance of understanding how Durham and San Francisco compare in terms of housing costs, styles, and livability can notably impact your moving decisions.
| Comparison | Durham | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Victorian, Modern |
| Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
| Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
| Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
| Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods | City views, proximity to amenities |
In comparing Durham and San Francisco, the disparity in housing costs is immediately evident, with San Francisco's median home price and rent significantly outpacing those in Durham. This reflects the high demand and limited space in one of America's most densely populated cities. San Francisco's architecture is famed for its picturesque Victorian homes and sleek, modern buildings, offering a visual feast that differs from Durham's more traditional Colonial and Craftsman styles. The lifestyle in San Francisco is markedly more urban, underscored by its superior walkability and bikeability scores, allowing residents to enjoy a highly accessible city full of vibrant neighborhoods and cultural landmarks such as SFMOMA and Ferry Building Marketplace, contrasting with the spacious, quiet neighborhoods prevalent in Durham.
Durham vs. San Francisco Weather Considerations
When planning a move from one city to another, understanding how the weather compares is crucial. This guide provides insights into weather differences between Durham, NC, and San Francisco, CA, helping you adjust to your new environment more comfortably.
Durham, NC
San Francisco, CA
Average Summer High/Low (°F)
Average Summer High/Low (°F)
Durham, NC
San Francisco, CA
Average Winter High/Low (°F)
Average Winter High/Low (°F)
Durham, NC
San Francisco, CA
Annual Rainfall (Inches)
Annual Rainfall (Inches)
Durham, NC
San Francisco, CA
Annual Snowfall (Inches)
Annual Snowfall (Inches)
| Comparison | Durham | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
| Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Earthquakes |
| Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
| Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
| Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
While Durham enjoys hotter summers and experiences a true four-season climate, San Francisco offers a mild, more stable climate year-round. Notably, Durham experiences more extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes, in contrast to San Francisco's higher earthquake risk. Additionally, those moving can expect fewer rainy days in San Francisco but might find its higher humidity and prevalent fog a unique adjustment. San Francisco’s superior air quality and lower annual snowfall also contribute to a distinct living experience, split by clear, cool, and less humid conditions.
Ready to start your move?
Money, Economy, and Job Market Considerations for Moving from Durham to San Francisco
When making the big move from Durham, NC to San Francisco, CA, it's crucial to grasp how your finances will be impacted. This comparison aims to enlighten you on the financial differences between Durham and San Francisco, covering various aspects of money and economy. Understanding these differences can help you better prepare for your new life.
| Comparison | Durham | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Household Income | $71,343 | $121,826 |
| Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 164 |
| State Income Tax | 5.25 | 9.3 |
| Avg. Property Tax | 0.84 | 0.69 |
| Avg. Sales Tax | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Top 3 Industries | Education, Health Services, Tech | Tech, Finance, Tourism |
| Affluence | Moderate | High |
| Poverty | Moderate | Low |
| Homelessness | Low | High |
Moving from Durham to San Francisco, prepare for a significant change in your financial lifestyle. San Francisco's higher average household income reflects its booming tech and finance industries, yet it's coupled with a cost of living index nearly double that of Durham. The stark contrast in homelessness rates is a critical social issue in San Francisco, despite its affluence. Understanding these nuances and planning accordingly will be key to a smooth transition into your new city.
Durham vs. San Francisco Political & Religious Comparison
This snapshot offers a quick comparison of the political and religious makeup between Durham and San Francisco . It serves to provide you with an at-a-glance understanding of what distinguishes the communities in these two cities.
| Durham | San Francisco | |
|---|---|---|
| Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Liberal/Democratic |
| Local Politics | Progressive policies, especially on social issues | Strong focus on progressive politics, environmental issues, and equality |
| Religion | Diverse, with a significant Christian population | Highly diverse; less religious overall compared to national average |
When comparing Durham to San Francisco, it's important to note both cities have a strong liberal and Democratic leaning, shaping their vibrant political landscapes. The emphasis on progressive policies in local governance in Durham finds a parallel in San Francisco's historic focus on progressive politics, environmental sustainability, and equality. Religious diversity is a hallmark in both locales; however, Durham tends to have a more pronounced Christian demographic, whereas San Francisco boasts a vast array of religious practices but is generally less religious in terms of adherence to any particular faith. This reflection of differing cultures, embedded in the political and religious fabrics of these cities, enriches the lived experiences of their residents.
Durham vs. San Francisco Traffic and Public Transit Considerations
Moving from Durham, NC to San Francisco, CA offers a unique opportunity to compare the traffic and transportation options between these two cities. This comparison aims to provide insight into what one might expect in terms of daily commute and traffic as they transition from the tree-lined streets of Durham to the hill-filled landscape of San Francisco.
| Comparison | Durham | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Commute Time (in minutes) | 24 | 34 |
| Traffic Congestion | 🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦 | 🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦🚦 |
| Availability of Public Transit | 🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇 | 🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇🚇 |
| Can you get by without a car? | Challenging | Yes |
In San Francisco, the higher average commute time and level of traffic congestion reflect the city's dense urban environment. However, it compensates with an excellent public transit system, making it feasible to live without a car. This contrasts with Durham, where lower traffic congestion and shorter commute times come at the cost of limited public transit options, rendering a car nearly essential for daily travel. Relocating from Durham to San Francisco, you'll find the shift towards relying on public transit or other forms of transportation like biking or walking a significant change, offering both challenges and opportunities to explore the city in new ways.
Popular Durham, NC to California Moving Routes
- Durham to Los Angeles
- Durham to San Diego
- Durham to San Jose
- Durham to Fresno
- Durham to Sacramento
- Durham to Long Beach
- Durham to Oakland
- Durham to Bakersfield
- Durham to Anaheim
- Durham to Santa Ana
- Durham to Riverside
- Durham to Stockton
- Durham to Irvine
- Durham to Chula Vista
- Durham to Fremont
- Durham to San Bernardino
- Durham to Modesto
- Durham to Fontana
- Durham to Moreno Valley
Popular Moving Routes
Nearby Moving Routes
