Purpose <p>Determine whether the risk factors for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) differ from other rare subtypes of pancreatic cancer, such as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs).</p> Methods <p>In this retrospective cohort (case-only) database study, the study population was pancreatic cancer patients with histology information in the Cancer Care Quality Program between July 2014 and May 2025. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed to identify independent differences in risk factors for PNETs (vs. PDACs) and other pancreatic cancers (vs. PDACs).</p> Results <p>This study included the following incident pancreatic cancer frequencies: 7,973 PDACs, 649 PNETs, and 363 other pancreatic cancers. PNETs and other pancreatic cancer patients were younger than PDACs (mean 57 and 60 vs. 62). PNET patients were more likely to have newly diagnosed diabetes prior to their pancreatic cancer diagnosis (aOR = 1.37, 95%CI = 0.98–1.97), and less likely to smoke (aOR = 0.80, 95%CI = 0.64–1.01). PNETs and other pancreatic cancers had slightly higher baseline co-morbidity scores (Charlson) than PDACs (1.7 vs. 2.6 vs. 2.8). Other pancreatic cancers were more likely to be current alcohol drinkers (aOR = 2.86, 95%CI = 1.25–6.59). Common risk factors such as obesity and family history of pancreatic cancer were similar among the three cohorts.</p> Conclusions <p>This study suggests there may be different risk factors for rarer pancreatic cancer subtypes. Differences such as younger age and more alcohol use were noteworthy in the rarer pancreatic subtypes.</p>