Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Jacksonville leads 13 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
23% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $9,722 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $325/mo less ($956 vs $1,281)
Homes cost $56k less ($187,400 vs $243,000)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jacksonville by $9,722/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$9,722
$64,138 vs $54,416/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
23% lower
623.8 vs 809.7 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$56k less
$187,400 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 13 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 13 and Winston-Salem wins 10. 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 Jacksonville to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $187,400 median home), income ($64,138 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Winston-Salem, NC are about 407 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.