Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $19,654 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($187,400 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($956 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $19,654/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$19,654
$74,070 vs $54,416/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
9% lower
733.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$125k less
$187,400 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 11 and Winston-Salem wins 12. 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 Charlotte to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 70 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.