Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
10
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $70,201 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Winston-Salem
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $399k less ($187,400 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $993/mo less ($956 vs $1,949)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $70,201/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
Centennial
Median Income
$70,201
$124,617 vs $54,416/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
79% lower
172.8 vs 809.7 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$399k less
$187,400 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 13 and Winston-Salem wins 10. 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 Centennial to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($124,617 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.