Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ 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.
Madison, WI
Pros
68% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $20,479 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($187,400 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($956 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $20,479/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
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$20,479
$74,895 vs $54,416/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
68% lower
256.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$139k less
$187,400 vs $326,600
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison 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 Madison to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $187,400 median home), income ($74,895 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Winston-Salem, NC are about 686 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.