Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
49% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $15,021 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($187,400 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $496/mo less ($956 vs $1,452)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Gresham by $15,021/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$15,021
$69,437 vs $54,416/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
49% lower
410.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$224k less
$187,400 vs $411,700
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 10 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Gresham to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($69,437 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.