Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Winston-Salem, NC
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($187,400 vs $243,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Winston-Salem
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$56k less
$187,400 vs $243,300
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Median Income
$1,318
$55,734 vs $54,416/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
33% lower
544.3 vs 809.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Winston-Salem, NC | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $187,400 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $956 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,416 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.5% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,571 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Winston-Salem's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Winston-Salem wins 14 and Yakima wins 9. 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 Winston-Salem to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($187,400 vs $243,300 median home), income ($54,416 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Winston-Salem, NC and Yakima, WA are about 2,184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.