City comparison
Yes. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Madison and Winston Salem split most clearly. Madison scores 112 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,413 in Madison and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Madison 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 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
Madison and Winston Salem are 685 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $326 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $18,782 (24%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 203 in Winston Salem, up 112 points (123%).
The move
Winston Salem and Madison are 685 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $326 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $78,050 in Madison, up $18,782 (32%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 91 in Madison, down 112 points (55%).
Madison, WI
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 Madison and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 23% cheaper than Madison
Madison
$1,413/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,413 in Madison, so Winston Salem is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $326/month back in your pocket ($3,912/year). Over five years that's $19,560 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 Madison, 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 Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Madison's median income is 32% higher than Winston Salem
Madison
Winner$78,050
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Madison (about $18,782 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, Madison 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
55% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 55% lower than Winston Salem
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Madison. 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, Madison 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
17% more comfortable
Winston Salem weather is 17% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Winston Salem
Winner56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Madison averages around 52°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. Winston Salem scores 17% 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 Madison 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
Madison is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($78,050). Start with Madison if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than Winston Salem (91 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 23% 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 (56°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 17%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Winston Salem is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Madison: Madison scores 63/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem, with typical rent at $1,413 versus $1,087. I would vet the exact ZIP in Winston Salem before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Madison still pays more locally ($78,050 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays Madison rates.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
If safety drives your move, Madison is the stronger match (63/100 safety versus 38/100). 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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