City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The income gap between Aurora and Winston Salem is significant: $88,368 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,835 in Aurora and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Aurora 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Winston Salem at $1,087 average has pockets that run $887 and others at $1,487: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Winston Salem are 1,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $748 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $29,100 (33%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 203 in Winston Salem, down 9 points (4%).
The move
Winston Salem and Aurora are 1,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $748 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $88,368 in Aurora, up $29,100 (49%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 212 in Aurora, up 9 points (4%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 41% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Winston Salem is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $748/month back in your pocket ($8,976/year). Over five years that's $44,880 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Aurora, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Winston Salem is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
49% higher
Aurora's median income is 49% higher than Winston Salem
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Aurora (about $29,100 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, Aurora 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
4% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 4% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Winston Salem. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Winston Salem, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Aurora. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 19% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 19% 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 49% higher ($88,368), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°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 41% 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 4% lower than Aurora (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
Aurora runs $1,835/month while Winston Salem sits at $1,087 — roughly 41% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Aurora-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 56°F in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Winston Salem; Aurora only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Aurora at $88,368 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Winston Salem, plus other cities in CO and NC.
