Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
12
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.
Provo, UT
Pros
74% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $3,527 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($187,400 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $133/mo less ($956 vs $1,089)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Median income trails Provo by $3,527/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Median Income
$3,527
$57,943 vs $54,416/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
74% lower
206.6 vs 809.7 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$204k less
$187,400 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Provo wins 11 and Winston-Salem wins 12. 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 Provo to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($57,943 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.