Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 14 of 22 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
72% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $28,131 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $227/mo less ($956 vs $1,183)
Homes cost $23k less ($187,400 vs $210,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $28,131/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 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$28,131
$82,547 vs $54,416/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
72% lower
223.1 vs 809.7 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$23k less
$187,400 vs $210,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 14 of 22 categories. Broken Arrow wins 14 and Winston-Salem wins 8. 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 Broken Arrow to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($82,547 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Winston-Salem, NC are about 866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.