City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The income gap between Raleigh and Winston Salem is significant: $85,395 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh and Winston Salem are 93 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $485 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $26,127 (31%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 203 in Winston Salem, up 61 points (43%).
The move
Winston Salem and Raleigh are 93 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $485 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $26,127 (44%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 142 in Raleigh, down 61 points (30%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 31% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Winston Salem is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $485/month back in your pocket ($5,820/year). Over five years that's $29,100 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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Raleigh's median income is 44% higher than Winston Salem
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Raleigh (about $26,127 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, Raleigh 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
30% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 30% lower than Winston Salem
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
15% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 15% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh 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 44% higher ($85,395), 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.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Winston Salem (142 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 31% 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,087/month in Winston Salem versus $1,572 in Raleigh. Median income reads $59,268 in Winston Salem and $85,395 in Raleigh, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 49/100 in Raleigh and 38/100 in Winston Salem.
If housing cost drives your move, Winston Salem is the stronger match ($1,087/month rent against $1,572). If an employer or family tie already points to Raleigh, treat $1,572/month rent and $85,395 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Winston Salem, plus other cities in NC.
