Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
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.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $12,067 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Winston-Salem
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($187,400 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $219/mo less ($956 vs $1,175)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $12,067/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$12,067
$66,483 vs $54,416/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
70% lower
242.1 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$120k less
$187,400 vs $307,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 10 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Spokane Valley to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($66,483 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,039 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.