Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stamford, CT
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories
Stamford
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
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.
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $46,302 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Winston-Salem
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $397k less ($187,400 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1173/mo less ($956 vs $2,129)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $46,302/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Median Income
$46,302
$100,718 vs $54,416/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
81% lower
157.5 vs 809.7 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$397k less
$187,400 vs $584,700
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stamford, CT | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $584,700⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,129⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $100,718 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.8 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.4% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stamford School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.9" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,413 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.0% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stamford's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories. Stamford wins 12 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 Stamford to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($584,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($100,718 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stamford, CT and Winston-Salem, NC are about 499 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.