City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Winston Salem split most clearly. Winston Salem scores 63 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Winston Salem is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Milwaukee makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Winston Salem is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Winston Salem has rougher pockets and Milwaukee has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Milwaukee and Winston Salem are 629 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, up $28 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $59,268 in Winston Salem, up $5,034 (9%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 203 in Winston Salem, down 63 points (24%).
The move
Winston Salem and Milwaukee are 629 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $28 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $5,034 (8%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 266 in Milwaukee, up 63 points (31%).
Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 3% cheaper than Winston Salem
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Winston Salem
$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,087 in Winston Salem, so Milwaukee is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $28, or $336 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
9% higher
Winston Salem's median income is 9% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Winston Salem
Winner$59,268
Median household income is $59,268 in Winston Salem versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Winston Salem (about $5,034 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
24% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 24% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Winston Salem. 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, Winston Salem is the easier city. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Winston Salem weather is 4% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Winston Salem
Winner56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°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 4% 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 Milwaukee if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 9% higher ($59,268), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 56°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 24% lower than Milwaukee (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
Safety is the widest gap: Winston Salem scores 38/100 versus 30/100 in Milwaukee. Rent is $1,087/month in Winston Salem and $1,059/month in Milwaukee, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Winston Salem's $1,087, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Milwaukee and 56°F in Winston Salem.
Between Milwaukee and Winston Salem, Winston Salem is ahead on safety — 38/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Milwaukee instead when you already know the Milwaukee block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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