City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
The income gap between Portland and Winston Salem is significant: $90,919 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,655 in Portland and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and Portland 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
Portland and Winston Salem are 2,283 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $568 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $31,651 (35%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 203 in Winston Salem, down 62 points (23%).
The move
Winston Salem and Portland are 2,283 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $568 a month (52%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $90,919 in Portland, up $31,651 (53%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 265 in Portland, up 62 points (31%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 34% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,655 in Portland, so Winston Salem is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $568/month back in your pocket ($6,816/year). Over five years that's $34,080 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 Portland, 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
53% higher
Portland's median income is 53% higher than Winston Salem
Portland
Winner$90,919
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 53% higher in Portland (about $31,651 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, Portland 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
23% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 23% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Portland weather is 15% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 15% 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 53% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°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 34% 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 23% lower than Portland (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 $1,655 in Portland. Median income reads $59,268 in Winston Salem and $90,919 in Portland, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Portland's $1,655, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Portland and 38/100 in Winston Salem.
If housing cost drives your move, Winston Salem is the stronger match ($1,087/month rent against $1,655). If an employer or family tie already points to Portland, treat $1,655/month rent and $90,919 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and Winston Salem, plus other cities in OR and NC.
