City comparison
Yes. Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 38 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,902 in Chandler.
The income gap between Chandler and Winston Salem is significant: $108,095 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,902 in Chandler and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Chandler 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 Chandler 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
Chandler and Winston Salem are 1,797 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,902 a month in Chandler to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $815 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $108,095 in Chandler to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $48,827 (45%).
The crime index goes from 61 in Chandler to 203 in Winston Salem, up 142 points (233%).
The move
Winston Salem and Chandler are 1,797 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,902 a month in Chandler, up $815 a month (75%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $108,095 in Chandler, up $48,827 (82%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 61 in Chandler, down 142 points (70%).
Chandler, AZ
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 Chandler and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 43% cheaper than Chandler
Chandler
$1,902/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,902 in Chandler, so Winston Salem is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $815/month back in your pocket ($9,780/year). Over five years that's $48,900 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 Chandler, 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 Chandler? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
82% higher
Chandler's median income is 82% higher than Winston Salem
Chandler
Winner$108,095
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $108,095 in Chandler versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 82% higher in Chandler (about $48,827 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, Chandler 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
70% lower crime
Chandler's crime index is 70% lower than Winston Salem
Chandler
Winner61 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% lower in Chandler. 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, Chandler 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
28% more comfortable
Chandler weather is 28% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Chandler
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Chandler averages about 80°F (87°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Chandler sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chandler scores 28% 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 82% higher ($108,095), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 80°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Chandler is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 70% lower than Winston Salem (61 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 43% 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
Safety is the widest gap: Chandler scores 75/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem. Rent is $1,902/month in Chandler and $1,087/month in Winston Salem, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Chandler still pays more locally ($108,095 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chandler rates.
Median income is $108,095 in Chandler versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Between Chandler and Winston Salem, Chandler is ahead on safety — 75/100 safety versus 38/100. Lean Winston Salem instead when you already know the Winston Salem block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chandler and Winston Salem, plus other cities in AZ and NC.
