Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
15
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $7,962 more per year on average
Homes cost $17k less ($170,700 vs $187,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Des Moines by $7,962/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$7,962
$62,378 vs $54,416/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
13% lower
703.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$17k less
$170,700 vs $187,400
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Winston-Salem wins 15. 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 Des Moines to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 811 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.