Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
63% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $24,130 more per year on average
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Winston-Salem
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($187,400 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $516/mo less ($956 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $24,130/yr
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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$24,130
$78,546 vs $54,416/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
63% lower
302.5 vs 809.7 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$229k less
$187,400 vs $416,500
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 11 and Winston-Salem wins 12. 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 Ann Arbor to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($78,546 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Winston-Salem, NC are about 465 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.