Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Homes cost $25k less ($162,000 vs $187,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $2,893/yr
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Households earn $2,893 more per year on average
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
Roanoke
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
23% lower
620.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$25k less
$162,000 vs $187,400
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$2,893
$54,416 vs $51,523/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories. Roanoke 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 Roanoke to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $187,400 median home), income ($51,523 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 83 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.