Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
9
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.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
57% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $13,430 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($187,400 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $13,430/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$13,430
$67,846 vs $54,416/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
57% lower
347.9 vs 809.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$43k less
$187,400 vs $230,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ 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+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 14 and Winston-Salem wins 9. 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 Lincoln to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $187,400 median home), income ($67,846 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Winston-Salem, NC are about 944 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.