Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $7,087 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
31% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Homes cost $59k less ($187,400 vs $246,000)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°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
Median income trails Albuquerque by $7,087/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$7,087
$61,503 vs $54,416/yr
Albuquerque
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
31% lower
809.7 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$59k less
$187,400 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 14 and Winston-Salem wins 9. 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 Albuquerque to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $187,400 median home), income ($61,503 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.