City comparison
Yes. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between Durham and Winston Salem is significant: $81,619 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Durham 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 Durham 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
Durham and Winston Salem are 76 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $421 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $22,351 (27%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 203 in Winston Salem, up 10 points (5%).
The move
Winston Salem and Durham are 76 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $421 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $81,619 in Durham, up $22,351 (38%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 193 in Durham, down 10 points (5%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 28% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,508 in Durham, so Winston Salem is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $421/month back in your pocket ($5,052/year). Over five years that's $25,260 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 Durham, 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Durham's median income is 38% higher than Winston Salem
Durham
Winner$81,619
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Durham (about $22,351 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, Durham 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
5% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 5% lower than Winston Salem
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Durham. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Durham, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Winston Salem. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Durham weather is 11% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 11% 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 38% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Winston Salem (193 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 28% 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
Durham posts $81,619 median household income against $59,268 in Winston Salem. That 27% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,087 in Winston Salem and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Durham and 56°F in Winston Salem.
Between Durham and Winston Salem, Durham is ahead on local pay — $81,619 median income against $59,268. Lean Winston Salem instead when keeping rent near $1,087/month beats chasing $81,619 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Winston Salem, plus other cities in NC.
