Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ 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.
Tampa, FL
Pros
45% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Households earn $12,386 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($187,400 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($956 vs $1,422)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tampa by $12,386/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Median Income
$12,386
$66,802 vs $54,416/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
45% lower
444.6 vs 809.7 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$146k less
$187,400 vs $333,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Tampa 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 Tampa to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $187,400 median home), income ($66,802 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Winston-Salem, NC are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.