City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,172 in Greensboro.
Greensboro 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 $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,087 in Winston Salem, and median household income lands at $61,515 versus $59,268. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Greensboro wins on the job market and Winston Salem wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Greensboro and Winston Salem are 25 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $85 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $2,247 (4%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 203 in Winston Salem, down 11 points (5%).
The move
Winston Salem and Greensboro are 25 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, up $85 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $61,515 in Greensboro, up $2,247 (4%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 214 in Greensboro, up 11 points (5%).
Greensboro, 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 Greensboro and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 7% cheaper than Greensboro
Greensboro
$1,172/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,172 in Greensboro, so Winston Salem is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $85, or $1,020 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
4% higher
Greensboro's median income is 4% higher than Winston Salem
Greensboro
Winner$61,515
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $61,515 in Greensboro versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Greensboro (about $2,247 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
5% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 5% lower than Greensboro
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% 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 Greensboro. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Greensboro and Winston Salem are about even on typical weather.
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Greensboro averages around 56°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. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Greensboro is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($61,515). Start with Greensboro if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 7% 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 5% lower than Greensboro (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Greensboro at $61,515 median income versus $59,268 in Winston Salem. Housing ($1,087 in Winston Salem, $1,172 in Greensboro) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $85 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,087 in Winston Salem and $1,172 in Greensboro.
If local pay drives your move, Greensboro is the stronger match ($61,515 median income against $59,268). If an employer or family tie already points to Winston Salem, treat $1,087/month rent and $59,268 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Winston Salem when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Greensboro and Winston Salem, plus other cities in NC.
