Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Toledo, OH
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Toledo
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($98,800 vs $187,400)
Rent averages $102/mo less ($854 vs $956)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $9,011/yr
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.2%)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
22% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $9,011 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 34°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
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Toledo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$89k less
$98,800 vs $187,400
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$9,011
$54,416 vs $45,405/yr
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
22% lower
809.7 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Toledo, OH | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $98,800 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $854 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,405 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 216⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 274⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.2% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Toledo City | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.4" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 269,962 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Toledo's cost of living index is 90.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Toledo wins 9 and Winston-Salem wins 14. 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 Toledo to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($98,800 vs $187,400 median home), income ($45,405 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Toledo, OH and Winston-Salem, NC are about 424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.