Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($121,100 vs $187,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $4,563/yr
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
33% less violent crime than Evansville
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,563 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 42°F
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$66k less
$121,100 vs $187,400
Evansville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$4,563
$54,416 vs $49,853/yr
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
33% lower
809.7 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 11 and Winston-Salem wins 12. 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 Evansville to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $187,400 median home), income ($49,853 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Winston-Salem, NC are about 422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.