City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Albuquerque and Winston Salem. Albuquerque averages 65°F while Winston Salem averages 56°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,145 versus $1,087.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Albuquerque pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Winston Salem has rougher pockets and Albuquerque has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Albuquerque and Winston Salem are 1,481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $58 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $9,049 (13%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 203 in Winston Salem, down 90 points (31%).
The move
Winston Salem and Albuquerque are 1,481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $58 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $68,317 in Albuquerque, up $9,049 (15%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 293 in Albuquerque, up 90 points (44%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 5% cheaper than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so Winston Salem is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $58, or $696 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Albuquerque's median income is 15% higher than Winston Salem
Albuquerque
Winner$68,317
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Albuquerque (about $9,049 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Albuquerque is the stronger labor market on paper. Winston Salem can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 31% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Winston Salem. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Winston Salem is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Albuquerque
Winner65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Winston Salem if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 15% higher ($68,317), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,087 a month. Choose Winston Salem if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Winston Salem is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Albuquerque (203 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Albuquerque carries the heavier crime signal on this page (27/100 safety vs 38/100 in Winston Salem). That 11-point spread matters more than the $58 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (38/100 in Winston Salem vs 27/100 in Albuquerque), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Pick Winston Salem when you want the stronger safety signal (38/100). Otherwise, Albuquerque's case rests on a Albuquerque ZIP you trust at $1,145 rent.
Common questions
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