City comparison
Yes. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
The income gap between Reno and Winston Salem is significant: $80,760 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,556 in Reno and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Reno 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 Reno 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
Reno and Winston Salem are 2,155 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $469 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $21,492 (27%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 203 in Winston Salem, up 52 points (34%).
The move
Winston Salem and Reno are 2,155 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $469 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $80,760 in Reno, up $21,492 (36%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 151 in Reno, down 52 points (26%).
Reno, NV
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 Reno and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 30% cheaper than Reno
Reno
$1,556/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,556 in Reno, so Winston Salem is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $469/month back in your pocket ($5,628/year). Over five years that's $28,140 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 Reno, 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 Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
36% higher
Reno's median income is 36% higher than Winston Salem
Reno
Winner$80,760
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Reno (about $21,492 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, Reno 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
26% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 26% lower than Winston Salem
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
23% more comfortable
Reno weather is 23% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Reno
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Reno averages around 62°F. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Reno scores 23% 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 36% higher ($80,760), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Winston Salem (151 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 30% 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
Reno runs $1,556/month while Winston Salem sits at $1,087 — roughly 30% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Reno-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Reno's $1,556, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 47/100 in Reno and 38/100 in Winston Salem.
Winston Salem is the default on housing cost at $1,087/month versus $1,556 in Reno; Reno stays in play when $80,760 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $469 lease gap.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Reno and Winston Salem, plus other cities in NV and NC.
