City comparison
Yes. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Safety is where Laredo and Winston Salem split most clearly. Laredo scores 113 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,030 in Laredo and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Laredo is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Laredo has rougher pockets and Winston Salem has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Laredo and Winston Salem are 1,274 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, up $57 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $4,647 (7%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 203 in Winston Salem, up 113 points (126%).
The move
Winston Salem and Laredo are 1,274 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $57 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $63,915 in Laredo, up $4,647 (8%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 90 in Laredo, down 113 points (56%).
Laredo, 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 Laredo and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Laredo rent is 5% cheaper than Winston Salem
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Winston Salem
$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,087 in Winston Salem, so Laredo is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $57, or $684 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 Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Laredo's median income is 8% higher than Winston Salem
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Laredo (about $4,647 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
56% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 56% lower than Winston Salem
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% lower in Laredo. 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, Laredo 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
33% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Laredo scores 33% 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
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,030 a month. Choose Laredo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 8% higher ($63,915), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Winston Salem (90 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
On these five categories Laredo takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Winston Salem because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Winston Salem only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Winston Salem carries the heavier crime signal on this page (38/100 safety vs 63/100 in Laredo). That 25-point spread matters more than the $57 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 38/100 in Winston Salem), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Pick Laredo when you want the stronger safety signal (63/100). Otherwise, Winston Salem's case rests on a Winston Salem ZIP you trust at $1,087 rent.
Common questions
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