Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
9
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.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,946 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($187,400 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $769/mo less ($956 vs $1,725)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $39,946/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Median Income
$39,946
$94,362 vs $54,416/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
82% lower
146.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$192k less
$187,400 vs $379,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 14 and Winston-Salem wins 9. 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 Richardson to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($94,362 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Winston-Salem, NC are about 959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.