City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Winston Salem.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
Safety is where New Orleans and Winston Salem split most clearly. Winston Salem scores 147 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Winston Salem is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. New Orleans 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 New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Winston Salem are 710 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $164 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $59,268 in Winston Salem, up $2,637 (5%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 203 in Winston Salem, down 147 points (42%).
The move
Winston Salem and New Orleans are 710 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $164 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $2,637 (4%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 350 in New Orleans, up 147 points (72%).
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 13% cheaper than New Orleans
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Winston Salem is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,968, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Winston Salem still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in New Orleans.
Planning to buy in Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Winston Salem's median income is 5% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Winston Salem
Winner$59,268
Median household income is $59,268 in Winston Salem versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Winston Salem (about $2,637 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
42% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 42% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 28% more comfortable than Winston Salem
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 28% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick New Orleans if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Winston Salem on this page's weather index by 28%. Winston Salem may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($59,268). Start with Winston Salem if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 42% lower than New Orleans (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 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,087/month in Winston Salem and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (38/100 in Winston Salem vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,087 in Winston Salem and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Winston Salem; New Orleans only makes sense when you have walked the New Orleans ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,251 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Winston Salem, plus other cities in LA and NC.
