City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Winston Salem is significant: $93,658 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Winston Salem makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
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
Austin and Winston Salem are 1,087 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $642 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $34,390 (37%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 203 in Winston Salem, up 41 points (25%).
The move
Winston Salem and Austin are 1,087 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $642 a month (59%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $93,658 in Austin, up $34,390 (58%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 162 in Austin, down 41 points (20%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 37% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,729 in Austin, so Winston Salem is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $642/month back in your pocket ($7,704/year). Over five years that's $38,520 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 Austin, 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 Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
58% higher
Austin's median income is 58% higher than Winston Salem
Austin
Winner$93,658
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 58% higher in Austin (about $34,390 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, Austin 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
20% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 20% lower than Winston Salem
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Austin. 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, Austin is the easier city. Winston Salem can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Austin weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Austin sits near 68°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. Austin 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 58% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Winston Salem (162 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Winston Salem
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% 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.
Bottom line
Austin runs $1,729/month while Winston Salem sits at $1,087 — roughly 37% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Austin-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 56°F in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Winston Salem; Austin only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Austin at $93,658 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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