Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Greensboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($197,200 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $566/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,614)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $8,993/yr
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
38% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $8,993 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Greensboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$128k less
$197,200 vs $324,800
Greensboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$8,993
$64,044 vs $55,051/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
38% lower
575.8 vs 923.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 12 and West Palm Beach 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 Greensboro to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $324,800 median home), income ($55,051 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and West Palm Beach, FL are about 646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.