Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roseville, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Roseville leads 15 of 23 categories
Roseville
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
8
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.
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,849 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Winston-Salem
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($187,400 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $984/mo less ($956 vs $1,940)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $57,849/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
Roseville
Median Income
$57,849
$112,265 vs $54,416/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
73% lower
219.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$409k less
$187,400 vs $596,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roseville, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $596,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,940⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,265 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.1% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ 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 | B (99) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roseville City Elementary | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.2" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,879 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.8 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.1% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roseville's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 15 of 23 categories. Roseville wins 15 and Winston-Salem wins 8. 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 Roseville to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($596,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($112,265 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roseville, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.