Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
8
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.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
87% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $33,340 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Winston-Salem
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $866/mo less ($956 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $165k less ($187,400 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $33,340/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 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Median Income
$33,340
$87,756 vs $54,416/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
87% lower
109.1 vs 809.7 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$165k less
$187,400 vs $352,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Surprise wins 15 and Winston-Salem wins 8. 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 Surprise to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $187,400 median home), income ($87,756 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.