Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
8
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
40% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $19,350 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($187,400 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $396/mo less ($956 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $19,350/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Income
$19,350
$73,766 vs $54,416/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
40% lower
482.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
Mesa
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$140k less
$187,400 vs $327,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 15 and Winston-Salem wins 8. 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 Mesa to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($73,766 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.