Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Washington, DC
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $47,306 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $518k less ($187,400 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $861/mo less ($956 vs $1,817)
13% less violent crime than Washington
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $47,306/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
Washington
Median Income
$47,306
$101,722 vs $54,416/yr
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
13% lower
809.7 vs 925.9 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$518k less
$187,400 vs $705,000
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $705,000⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,817⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,722 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 215⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 244⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.7% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | District of Columbia Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.6" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 670,587 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.4% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Washington 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 Washington to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($705,000 vs $187,400 median home), income ($101,722 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Washington, DC and Winston-Salem, NC are about 263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.