Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
50% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $5,523 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Winston-Salem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($187,400 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $434/mo less ($956 vs $1,390)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails Elizabeth by $5,523/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$5,523
$59,939 vs $54,416/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
50% lower
408.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$171k less
$187,400 vs $358,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 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 Elizabeth to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $187,400 median home), income ($59,939 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Winston-Salem, NC are about 455 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.