City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Plano and Winston Salem is significant: $112,253 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Winston Salem makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Plano is the stronger move.
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
Plano and Winston Salem are 959 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $754 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $52,985 (47%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 203 in Winston Salem, up 141 points (227%).
The move
Winston Salem and Plano are 959 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $754 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $112,253 in Plano, up $52,985 (89%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 62 in Plano, down 141 points (69%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 41% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,841 in Plano, so Winston Salem is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $754/month back in your pocket ($9,048/year). Over five years that's $45,240 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
89% higher
Plano's median income is 89% higher than Winston Salem
Plano
Winner$112,253
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 89% higher in Plano (about $52,985 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, Plano 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
69% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 69% lower than Winston Salem
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Winston Salem can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Plano weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Plano sits near 69°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. Plano 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 89% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 69% lower than Winston Salem (62 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Winston Salem
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Plano scores 75/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem. Rent is $1,841/month in Plano and $1,087/month in Winston Salem, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,087 in Winston Salem and $1,841 in Plano.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Plano; Winston Salem only makes sense when you have walked the Winston Salem ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,087 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Plano and Winston Salem, plus other cities in TX and NC.
