Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Syracuse, NY
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 18 of 23 categories
Syracuse
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
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.
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($117,900 vs $187,400)
5% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $10,832/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.2%)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Households earn $10,832 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
Cons
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
Syracuse
Violent Crime
5% lower
765.3 vs 809.7 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$70k less
$117,900 vs $187,400
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$10,832
$54,416 vs $43,584/yr
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 81.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Syracuse, NY | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $117,900 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $932 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,584 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 201⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 202⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.5% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 127.8" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 146,134 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.8% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Syracuse's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 18 of 23 categories. Syracuse wins 5 and Winston-Salem wins 18. 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 Syracuse to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($117,900 vs $187,400 median home), income ($43,584 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Syracuse, NY and Winston-Salem, NC are about 527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.