City comparison
Yes. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,164 in Lexington.
Safety is where Lexington and Winston Salem split most clearly. Lexington scores 101 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,164 in Lexington and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Lexington 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 crime gap is citywide. Lexington has rougher pockets and Winston Salem has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lexington and Winston Salem are 267 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $77 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $10,211 (15%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 203 in Winston Salem, up 101 points (99%).
The move
Winston Salem and Lexington are 267 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,164 a month in Lexington, up $77 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $69,479 in Lexington, up $10,211 (17%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 102 in Lexington, down 101 points (50%).
Lexington, KY
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 Lexington and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 7% cheaper than Lexington
Lexington
$1,164/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,164 in Lexington, so Winston Salem is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $77, or $924 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
17% higher
Lexington's median income is 17% higher than Winston Salem
Lexington
Winner$69,479
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Lexington (about $10,211 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, Lexington 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
50% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 50% lower than Winston Salem
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Lexington. 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, Lexington 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
13% more comfortable
Winston Salem weather is 13% more comfortable than Lexington
Lexington
54°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 69/100
Winston Salem
Winner57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Lexington averages about 54°F (64°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Lexington averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Winston Salem scores 13% 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 Lexington 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 and professional growth
Lexington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($69,479). Start with Lexington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Winston Salem (102 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
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.
Pick Winston Salem if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat Lexington on this page's weather index by 13%. Lexington may pay more or cost less, but Winston Salem is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Lexington scores 59/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem. Rent is $1,164/month in Lexington and $1,087/month in Winston Salem, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Lexington's $1,164, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Lexington and 57°F in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Lexington; 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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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Lexington and Winston Salem, plus other cities in KY and NC.
