Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
7
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $41,154 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Winston-Salem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($187,400 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1214/mo less ($956 vs $2,170)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $41,154/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$41,154
$95,570 vs $54,416/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
79% lower
171.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$410k less
$187,400 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 and Winston-Salem wins 7. 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 Boca Raton to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $187,400 median home), income ($95,570 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Winston-Salem, NC are about 672 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.