Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
40% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $11,959 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($187,400 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $312/mo less ($956 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $11,959/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$11,959
$66,375 vs $54,416/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
40% lower
488.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$123k less
$187,400 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Winston-Salem wins 11. 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 Glendale to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $187,400 median home), income ($66,375 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.