Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Midland leads 12 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $36,032 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($187,400 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $444/mo less ($956 vs $1,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $36,032/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 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$36,032
$90,448 vs $54,416/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
55% lower
364.9 vs 809.7 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$93k less
$187,400 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 12 of 23 categories. Midland wins 12 and Winston-Salem wins 11. 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 Midland to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($90,448 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.