City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Cincinnati and Winston Salem are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,087 in Winston Salem, and median household income lands at $52,909 versus $59,268. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Winston Salem is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Winston Salem is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Cincinnati and Winston Salem are 314 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, up $86 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $59,268 in Winston Salem, up $6,359 (12%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 203 in Winston Salem, down 28 points (12%).
The move
Winston Salem and Cincinnati are 314 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $86 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $6,359 (11%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 231 in Cincinnati, up 28 points (14%).
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 8% cheaper than Winston Salem
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Winston Salem
$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,087 in Winston Salem, so Cincinnati is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $86, or $1,032 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
12% higher
Winston Salem's median income is 12% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
$52,909
Winston Salem
Winner$59,268
Median household income is $59,268 in Winston Salem versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Winston Salem (about $6,359 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, Winston Salem is the stronger labor market on paper. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
12% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 12% lower than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% 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 Cincinnati. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Winston Salem weather is 18% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Winston Salem
Winner57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Winston Salem scores 18% 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 Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 12% higher ($59,268), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 12% lower than Cincinnati (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
Cincinnati carries the heavier crime signal on this page (35/100 safety vs 38/100 in Winston Salem). That 3-point spread matters more than the $86 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Winston Salem's $1,087, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $59,268 in Winston Salem versus $52,909 in Cincinnati.
If safety drives your move, Winston Salem is the stronger match (38/100 safety versus 35/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Cincinnati, treat $1,001/month rent and $52,909 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cincinnati and Winston Salem, plus other cities in OH and NC.
