Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 San Jose leads 13 of 22 categories
San Jose
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,594 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $962k less ($187,400 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1570/mo less ($956 vs $2,526)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $81,594/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$81,594
$136,010 vs $54,416/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
25% lower
606.8 vs 809.7 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$962k less
$187,400 vs $1,149,600
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Jose leads 13 of 22 categories. San Jose wins 13 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 San Jose to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $187,400 median home), income ($136,010 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.