Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 21 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
14
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.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
7% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $2,738 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $269/mo less ($956 vs $1,225)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $26k less ($187,400 vs $213,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
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 Portsmouth by $2,738/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Median Income
$2,738
$57,154 vs $54,416/yr
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
7% lower
752.4 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
$26k less
$187,400 vs $213,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth'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 21 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 21 categories. Portsmouth wins 7 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 Portsmouth to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $187,400 median home), income ($57,154 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.