Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Homes cost $26k less ($161,800 vs $187,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,838 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $104/mo less ($956 vs $1,060)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.8%)
Median income trails Abilene by $4,838/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$4,838
$59,254 vs $54,416/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
48% lower
424.5 vs 809.7 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$26k less
$161,800 vs $187,400
Abilene
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Winston-Salem wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.