City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
The income gap between Fort Worth and Winston Salem is significant: $79,507 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth and Winston Salem are 999 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $422 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $20,239 (25%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 203 in Winston Salem, up 68 points (50%).
The move
Winston Salem and Fort Worth are 999 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $422 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $20,239 (34%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 135 in Fort Worth, down 68 points (33%).
Fort Worth, TX
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 Fort Worth and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 28% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Winston Salem is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $422/month back in your pocket ($5,064/year). Over five years that's $25,320 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 Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 34% higher than Winston Salem
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Fort Worth (about $20,239 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, Fort Worth 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
33% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 33% lower than Winston Salem
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Fort Worth. 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, Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth weather is 28% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°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. Fort Worth 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 34% higher ($79,507), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fort Worth is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Winston Salem (135 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fort Worth leads on safety (51/100 vs 38/100 in Winston Salem). Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,087 in Winston Salem; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Worth; Winston Salem only makes sense when you have walked the Winston Salem ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,087 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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