Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Germantown
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
10
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $54,852 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Winston-Salem
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($187,400 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $952/mo less ($956 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $54,852/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$54,852
$109,268 vs $54,416/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$206k less
$187,400 vs $393,700
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Germantown wins 10 and Winston-Salem wins 10. 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 Germantown to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($109,268 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Winston-Salem, NC are about 268 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.