Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
9
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $51,598 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Winston-Salem
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($187,400 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $750/mo less ($956 vs $1,706)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $51,598/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$51,598
$106,014 vs $54,416/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
65% lower
285.6 vs 809.7 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$366k less
$187,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada 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 Arvada to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $187,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.