Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vallejo, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
15
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.
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,696 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($187,400 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $938/mo less ($956 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $31,696/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Vallejo
Median Income
$31,696
$86,112 vs $54,416/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
9% lower
739.8 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$328k less
$187,400 vs $515,500
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vallejo, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $515,500⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,894⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,112 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.7 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 193⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Vallejo City Unified | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,132 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vallejo's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Vallejo wins 8 and Winston-Salem wins 15. 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 Vallejo to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($515,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($86,112 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vallejo, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,299 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.