Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $60,763 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Winston-Salem
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($187,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $883/mo less ($956 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $60,763/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 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$60,763
$115,179 vs $54,416/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
84% lower
132.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$267k less
$187,400 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 16 and Winston-Salem wins 7. 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 Gilbert to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $187,400 median home), income ($115,179 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.