City comparison
Yes. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Paul and Winston Salem. St Paul averages 50°F while Winston Salem averages 57°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,281 versus $1,087.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and St Paul 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit St Paul in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
St Paul and Winston Salem are 908 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $194 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $14,126 (19%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 203 in Winston Salem, up 37 points (22%).
The move
Winston Salem and St Paul are 908 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $194 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $73,394 in St Paul, up $14,126 (24%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 166 in St Paul, down 37 points (18%).
St Paul, MN
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 St Paul and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 15% cheaper than St Paul
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Winston Salem is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,328, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Winston Salem still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in St Paul.
Planning to buy in Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
St Paul's median income is 24% higher than Winston Salem
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 24% higher in St Paul (about $14,126 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, St Paul 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
18% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 18% lower than Winston Salem
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in St Paul. 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, St Paul 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
34% more comfortable
Winston Salem weather is 34% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Winston Salem
Winner57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Winston Salem scores 34% 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 St Paul 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 and professional growth
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Paul is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Winston Salem (166 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
Pick Winston Salem if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 34%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Winston Salem is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Winston Salem carries the heavier crime signal on this page (38/100 safety vs 45/100 in St Paul). That 7-point spread matters more than the $194 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below St Paul's $1,281, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 50°F in St Paul and 57°F in Winston Salem.
St Paul clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Winston Salem deserves a serious look only when you already know the Winston Salem block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Paul and Winston Salem, plus other cities in MN and NC.
