Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Households earn $3,287 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($187,400 vs $230,500)
Rent averages $110/mo less ($956 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
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 5.1%)
Median income trails Chattanooga by $3,287/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$3,287
$57,703 vs $54,416/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
2% lower
809.7 vs 823.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$43k less
$187,400 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 9 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Chattanooga to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Winston-Salem, NC are about 289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.