Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
24% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $15,503 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Winston-Salem
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($187,400 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $218/mo less ($956 vs $1,174)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 24°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Paul by $15,503/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Median Income
$15,503
$69,919 vs $54,416/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
24% lower
617.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$78k less
$187,400 vs $264,900
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. St. Paul 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 St. Paul to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $187,400 median home), income ($69,919 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and Winston-Salem, NC are about 908 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.