Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
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.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $44,475 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($187,400 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $841/mo less ($956 vs $1,797)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $44,475/yr
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 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$44,475
$98,891 vs $54,416/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
61% lower
317.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$265k less
$187,400 vs $452,300
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, 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 | $452,300⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ 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 | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro'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. Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $187,400 median home), income ($98,891 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.