Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Households earn $5,513 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Winston-Salem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($187,400 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $649/mo less ($956 vs $1,605)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.2%)
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
Median income trails El Monte by $5,513/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$5,513
$59,929 vs $54,416/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
48% lower
423.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$410k less
$187,400 vs $597,200
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 8 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 El Monte to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $187,400 median home), income ($59,929 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.