Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
15
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.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,821 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($187,400 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $812/mo less ($956 vs $1,768)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $26,821/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
Santa Maria
Median Income
$26,821
$81,237 vs $54,416/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
18% lower
660.6 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$251k less
$187,400 vs $438,100
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 8 and Winston-Salem wins 15. 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 Santa Maria to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $187,400 median home), income ($81,237 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,245 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.