Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
60% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $25,827 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Winston-Salem
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $732k less ($187,400 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $897/mo less ($956 vs $1,853)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $25,827/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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$25,827
$80,243 vs $54,416/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
60% lower
322.3 vs 809.7 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$732k less
$187,400 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boulder wins 11 and Winston-Salem wins 11. 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 Boulder to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($80,243 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.