Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $21,916 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Winston-Salem
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($187,400 vs $328,700)
30% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $311/mo less ($956 vs $1,267)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 22°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $21,916/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$21,916
$76,332 vs $54,416/yr
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
30% lower
809.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$141k less
$187,400 vs $328,700
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 9 and Winston-Salem wins 14. 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 Minneapolis to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($76,332 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Winston-Salem, NC are about 915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.