A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Berkshires for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Durham or Berkshires?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Durham and Berkshires can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Durham or Berkshires?

Durham

Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.

Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.

Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.

Berkshires

The Berkshires are a popular highland destination in the western part of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The region has scenic landscape, hiking, lakes, recreational opportunities and other outdoor experiences. The Berkshires also has an impressive cultural scene with music, arts, museums, and live theaters.

The Berkshires can be a bit expensive to visit if you stay at a luxury resort and take advantage of the award winning restaurants in the area. Alternatively, the experience can be equally rewarding by camping, picnicking, and spending your time hiking and enjoying the beautiful natural setting.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Berkshires, we can see that Berkshires is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Berkshires would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berkshires than you might in Durham.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Durham Expensive? and Is Berkshires Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Durham or Berkshires?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Durham or Berkshires in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Berkshires. Many travelers come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Durham is generally a little warmer than Berkshires. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Berkshires fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Berkshires this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Berkshires during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Berkshires receives 289 hours of full sun in the summer.

Durham gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Berkshires. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Berkshires in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Durham as well as Berkshires. Many visitors come to Durham in the autumn for the shopping scene.

Durham is much warmer than Berkshires in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Berkshires fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the autumn, Durham often gets more sunshine than Berkshires. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berkshires receives 162 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Berkshires. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Berkshires in the Winter?

Both Berkshires and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Berkshires can be very cold. Durham can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Durham is much warmer than Berkshires. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Berkshires averages at about 22°F (-6°C).

Durham usually receives more sunshine than Berkshires during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Berkshires receives 138 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Durham usually receives more rain than Berkshires. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Berkshires in the Spring?

Both Berkshires and Durham during the spring are popular places to visit.

In April, Durham is generally much warmer than Berkshires. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Berkshires fluctuates around 47°F (9°C).

In Berkshires, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the spring, Durham often gets more sunshine than Berkshires. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berkshires receives 223 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in April than Berkshires. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Berkshires and Durham