Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reading, PA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 17 of 23 categories
Reading
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
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.
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($96,900 vs $187,400)
58% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $11,564/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 6.2%)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $11,564 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Reading
Violent Crime
58% lower
337.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$91k less
$96,900 vs $187,400
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$11,564
$54,416 vs $42,852/yr
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
6.2% vs 11.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reading, PA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $96,900 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,852 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 71.6% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Reading SD | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.2" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,601 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.1 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 17 of 23 categories. Reading wins 6 and Winston-Salem wins 17. 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 Reading to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($96,900 vs $187,400 median home), income ($42,852 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reading, PA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.