City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Winston Salem.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
The cost gap between Orlando and Winston Salem is the real story here. Winston Salem comes in 38% cheaper on typical rent ($1,747 vs $1,087), which over a year adds up to $7,920. Median household income runs $72,336 in Orlando and $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Orlando 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
Orlando and Winston Salem are 527 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $660 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $13,068 (18%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 203 in Winston Salem, down 39 points (16%).
The move
Winston Salem and Orlando are 527 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $660 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $72,336 in Orlando, up $13,068 (22%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 242 in Orlando, up 39 points (19%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 38% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Winston Salem is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $660/month back in your pocket ($7,920/year). Over five years that's $39,600 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 Orlando, 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
22% higher
Orlando's median income is 22% higher than Winston Salem
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Orlando (about $13,068 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, Orlando 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
16% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 16% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°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. Orlando 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 22% higher ($72,336), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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 38% 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 16% lower than Orlando (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,087/month in Winston Salem versus $1,747 in Orlando. Median income reads $59,268 in Winston Salem and $72,336 in Orlando, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Orlando's $1,747, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Pick Winston Salem when shaving $660 off rent at $1,087/month is the priority. Otherwise, Orlando's case rests on $1,747/month rent with $72,336 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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