Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $24,215 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($187,400 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $415/mo less ($956 vs $1,371)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $24,215/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 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Median Income
$24,215
$78,631 vs $54,416/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
40% lower
488.8 vs 809.7 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$160k less
$187,400 vs $347,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories. Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $187,400 median home), income ($78,631 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 92 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.