Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
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.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $9,394 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($187,400 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $294/mo less ($956 vs $1,250)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $9,394/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$9,394
$63,810 vs $54,416/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
2% lower
796.1 vs 809.7 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$189k less
$187,400 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 10 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Asheville to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($63,810 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.