Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
12
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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
66% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $24,561 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($187,400 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $620/mo less ($956 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $24,561/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$24,561
$78,977 vs $54,416/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
66% lower
272.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$310k less
$187,400 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $187,400 median home), income ($78,977 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.