Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
10
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.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Households earn $43,463 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($187,400 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $905/mo less ($956 vs $1,861)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $43,463/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
Norwalk
Median Income
$43,463
$97,879 vs $54,416/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
90% lower
85.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$304k less
$187,400 vs $491,800
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 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 | 42 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 13 and Winston-Salem wins 10. 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 Norwalk to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($97,879 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Winston-Salem, NC are about 505 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.