Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tracy, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories
Tracy
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
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.
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,301 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Winston-Salem
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($187,400 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1206/mo less ($956 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $57,301/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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Median Income
$57,301
$111,717 vs $54,416/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
63% lower
301.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$430k less
$187,400 vs $617,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tracy, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $617,300⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,162⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,717 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 43.5 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (71) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.7" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,027 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 9.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tracy's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories. Tracy 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 Tracy to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($617,300 vs $187,400 median home), income ($111,717 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tracy, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.