Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 22 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
7
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $12,479 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $20k less ($167,900 vs $187,400)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $12,479/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$12,479
$66,895 vs $54,416/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
68% lower
261.5 vs 809.7 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$20k less
$167,900 vs $187,400
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 22 categories. Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $187,400 median home), income ($66,895 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.