Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Cary leads 15 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
8
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $70,901 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($187,400 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $582/mo less ($956 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $70,901/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$70,901
$125,317 vs $54,416/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
91% lower
71.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$290k less
$187,400 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 15 of 23 categories. Cary wins 15 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 Cary to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $187,400 median home), income ($125,317 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 83 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.