City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Safety is where Cleveland and Winston Salem split most clearly. Winston Salem scores 138 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cleveland is the easier city on typical rent, but Winston Salem can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Winston Salem has rougher pockets and Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cleveland and Winston Salem are 381 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, up $27 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $5,200 (8%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 203 in Winston Salem, down 138 points (40%).
The move
Winston Salem and Cleveland are 381 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $27 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $5,200 (9%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 341 in Cleveland, up 138 points (68%).
Cleveland, 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 Cleveland and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 2% cheaper than Winston Salem
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Winston Salem
$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,087 in Winston Salem, so Cleveland is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $27, or $324 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 Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Cleveland's median income is 9% higher than Winston Salem
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Cleveland (about $5,200 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
40% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 40% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Winston Salem weather is 18% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Winston Salem
Winner57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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 and professional growth
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cleveland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Winston Salem if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat Cleveland on this page's weather index by 18%. Cleveland may pay more or cost less, but Winston Salem is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 40% lower than Cleveland (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Winston Salem: Winston Salem scores 38/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland, with typical rent at $1,087 versus $1,060. I would vet the exact ZIP in Cleveland before trading 15 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (38/100 in Winston Salem vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
If safety drives your move, Winston Salem is the stronger match (38/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Cleveland, treat $1,060/month rent and $64,468 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Cleveland?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cleveland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cleveland and Winston Salem, plus other cities in OH and NC.
