Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
14
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.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
64% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $10,184 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $249/mo less ($956 vs $1,205)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Dearborn by $10,184/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$10,184
$64,600 vs $54,416/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
64% lower
292.6 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn'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, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 9 and Winston-Salem wins 14. 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 Dearborn to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $187,400 median home), income ($64,600 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Winston-Salem, NC are about 457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.