Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Victorville, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Victorville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Victorville, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,330 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Winston-Salem
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 6.2%)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($187,400 vs $300,600)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($956 vs $1,461)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (6.2%)
20% less violent crime than Victorville
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Victorville by $11,330/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Victorville
Median Income
$11,330
$65,746 vs $54,416/yr
Victorville
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
20% lower
809.7 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$113k less
$187,400 vs $300,600
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
6.2% vs 10.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Victorville, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $300,600 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,461⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,746 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 40.5 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 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 | 267⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (57) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.3% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Victor Elementary | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 5.6" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 134,417 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Victorville's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Victorville 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 Victorville to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($300,600 vs $187,400 median home), income ($65,746 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Victorville, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,081 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.