Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
High Point
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$58,582 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
44% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Households earn $4,166 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
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
Median income trails High Point by $4,166/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Median Income
$4,166
$58,582 vs $54,416/yr
High Point
Violent Crime
44% lower
454.8 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point'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 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. High Point wins 11 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 High Point to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($58,582 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.