Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 22 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
18% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Homes cost $29k less ($158,500 vs $187,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.2%)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.2%)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($956 vs $1,117)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
18% lower
660.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$29k less
$158,500 vs $187,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.4 on the COL index
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$992
$54,416 vs $53,424/yr
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ 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 | 16.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Fayetteville to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.