Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $16,912 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($187,400 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $436/mo less ($956 vs $1,392)
28% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $16,912/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$16,912
$71,328 vs $54,416/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
28% lower
809.7 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$164k less
$187,400 vs $351,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 9 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Nashville-Davidson to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $187,400 median home), income ($71,328 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Winston-Salem, NC are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.