City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
The cost gap between Nashville and Winston Salem is the real story here. Winston Salem comes in 31% cheaper on typical rent ($1,586 vs $1,087), which over a year adds up to $5,988. Median household income runs $77,371 in Nashville and $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Nashville 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
Nashville and Winston Salem are 365 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $499 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $18,103 (23%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 203 in Winston Salem, down 79 points (28%).
The move
Winston Salem and Nashville are 365 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $499 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $77,371 in Nashville, up $18,103 (31%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 282 in Nashville, up 79 points (39%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 31% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Winston Salem is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $499/month back in your pocket ($5,988/year). Over five years that's $29,940 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 Nashville, 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
31% higher
Nashville's median income is 31% higher than Winston Salem
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Nashville (about $18,103 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, Nashville 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
28% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 28% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 29% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 29% 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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 31% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 31% 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 28% lower than Nashville (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
Nashville runs $1,586/month while Winston Salem sits at $1,087 — roughly 31% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Nashville-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Winston Salem; Nashville only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Nashville at $77,371 income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Winston Salem?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Winston Salem when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Winston Salem, plus other cities in TN and NC.
