City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and Winston Salem is significant: $94,718 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Denver 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
Denver and Winston Salem are 1,367 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $744 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $35,450 (37%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 203 in Winston Salem, down 68 points (25%).
The move
Winston Salem and Denver are 1,367 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $744 a month (68%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $94,718 in Denver, up $35,450 (60%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 271 in Denver, up 68 points (33%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 41% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,831 in Denver, so Winston Salem is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $744/month back in your pocket ($8,928/year). Over five years that's $44,640 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 Denver, 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
60% higher
Denver's median income is 60% higher than Winston Salem
Denver
Winner$94,718
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 60% higher in Denver (about $35,450 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, Denver 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
25% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 25% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
23% more comfortable
Denver weather is 23% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 23% 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 60% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°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 25% lower than Denver (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
Denver runs $1,831/month while Winston Salem sits at $1,087 — roughly 41% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Denver-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Denver and 38/100 in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Winston Salem; Denver only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Denver at $94,718 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Winston Salem, plus other cities in CO and NC.
