Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
7
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.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $31,411 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($187,400 vs $290,800)
Rent averages $470/mo less ($956 vs $1,426)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than New Braunfels
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $31,411/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Median Income
$31,411
$85,827 vs $54,416/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
81% lower
156.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$103k less
$187,400 vs $290,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories. New Braunfels wins 16 and Winston-Salem wins 7. 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 New Braunfels to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($85,827 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.