City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
The income gap between Oakland and Winston Salem is significant: $101,600 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,979 in Oakland and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Oakland 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
Oakland and Winston Salem are 2,304 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $892 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $42,332 (42%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 203 in Winston Salem, down 231 points (53%).
The move
Winston Salem and Oakland are 2,304 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $892 a month (82%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $101,600 in Oakland, up $42,332 (71%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 434 in Oakland, up 231 points (114%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
45% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 45% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Winston Salem is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $892/month back in your pocket ($10,704/year). Over five years that's $53,520 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 Oakland, 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
71% higher
Oakland's median income is 71% higher than Winston Salem
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 71% higher in Oakland (about $42,332 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, Oakland 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
53% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 53% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oakland scores 33% 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 71% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 45% 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 53% lower than Oakland (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
Oakland runs $1,979/month while Winston Salem sits at $1,087 — roughly 45% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Oakland-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Winston Salem is the default on housing cost at $1,087/month versus $1,979 in Oakland; Oakland stays in play when $101,600 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $892 lease gap.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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