Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
12
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $36,735 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($187,400 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $843/mo less ($956 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $36,735/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$36,735
$91,151 vs $54,416/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
31% lower
561.6 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$313k less
$187,400 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 11 and Winston-Salem wins 12. 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 Jersey City to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $187,400 median home), income ($91,151 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Winston-Salem, NC are about 462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.