Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ 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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,973 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Winston-Salem
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $696k less ($187,400 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $893/mo less ($956 vs $1,849)
58% less violent crime than Oakland
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $39,973/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
Oakland
Median Income
$39,973
$94,389 vs $54,416/yr
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
58% lower
809.7 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$696k less
$187,400 vs $883,800
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Oakland 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 Oakland to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($94,389 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,301 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.