Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
15
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.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $6,582 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($187,400 vs $254,200)
Rent averages $232/mo less ($956 vs $1,188)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Cons
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
Median income trails Norfolk by $6,582/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Median Income
$6,582
$60,998 vs $54,416/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
42% lower
469.5 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$67k less
$187,400 vs $254,200
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk'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 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 8 and Winston-Salem wins 15. 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 Norfolk to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $187,400 median home), income ($60,998 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 230 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.