Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $38,880 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($187,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($956 vs $1,548)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Meridian
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $38,880/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 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Median Income
$38,880
$93,296 vs $54,416/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
82% lower
146.8 vs 809.7 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$238k less
$187,400 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories. Meridian 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 Meridian to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($93,296 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.