Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
93% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 49°F
Households earn $3,874 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $261/mo less ($956 vs $1,217)
Homes cost $20k less ($187,400 vs $207,800)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Median income trails Lakeland by $3,874/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Median Income
$3,874
$58,290 vs $54,416/yr
Lakeland
Violent Crime
93% lower
56.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$20k less
$187,400 vs $207,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakeland wins 12 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 Lakeland to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($58,290 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Winston-Salem, NC are about 565 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.