Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 21 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $48k less ($139,600 vs $187,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $6,326/yr
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.2%)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
68% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $6,326 more per year on average
Rent averages $94/mo less ($956 vs $1,050)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
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
Memphis
Median Home Value
$48k less
$139,600 vs $187,400
Memphis
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$6,326
$54,416 vs $48,090/yr
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
68% lower
809.7 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 21 categories. Memphis wins 6 and Winston-Salem wins 15. 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 Memphis to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $187,400 median home), income ($48,090 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Winston-Salem, NC are about 549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.