Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Pasadena leads 15 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
8
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,402 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $794k less ($187,400 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1144/mo less ($956 vs $2,100)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $43,402/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$43,402
$97,818 vs $54,416/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
41% lower
480.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$794k less
$187,400 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 15 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 15 and Winston-Salem wins 8. 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 Pasadena to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $187,400 median home), income ($97,818 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,131 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.