Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 16 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($112,200 vs $187,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.2%)
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $3,669/yr
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
40% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Households earn $3,669 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Median Home Value
$75k less
$112,200 vs $187,400
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$3,669
$54,416 vs $50,747/yr
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
40% lower
809.7 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.3% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 16 of 23 categories. Lansing wins 7 and Winston-Salem wins 16. 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 Lansing to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $187,400 median home), income ($50,747 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and Winston-Salem, NC are about 511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.