Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,032 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($187,400 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $755/mo less ($956 vs $1,711)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $29,032/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$29,032
$83,448 vs $54,416/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
27% lower
589.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
Riverside
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$298k less
$187,400 vs $485,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 12 and Winston-Salem wins 11. 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 Riverside to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($83,448 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,094 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.