Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Monica, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,168
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,381 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $1467k less ($187,400 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1271/mo less ($956 vs $2,227)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 4 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 Santa Monica by $52,381/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 Monica
Median Income
$52,381
$106,797 vs $54,416/yr
Santa Monica
Violent Crime
4% lower
778.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$1467k less
$187,400 vs $1,654,800
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Monica, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,654,800⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,797 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 214⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 228⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 67.8% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 69.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,168 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.1 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.9% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Monica's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Santa Monica wins 11 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 Santa Monica to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,654,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($106,797 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Monica, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.