Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
12% less violent crime than Greensboro
Rent averages $92/mo less ($956 vs $1,048)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Median Income
$635
$55,051 vs $54,416/yr
Greensboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
12% lower
809.7 vs 923.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 9 and Winston-Salem wins 14. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $187,400 median home), income ($55,051 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 24 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.