City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Tulsa and Winston Salem are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,087 in Winston Salem, and median household income lands at $59,838 versus $59,268. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Tulsa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, 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 Tulsa is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Tulsa and Winston Salem are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, up $35 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $570 (1%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 203 in Winston Salem, down 33 points (14%).
The move
Winston Salem and Tulsa are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $35 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $59,838 in Tulsa, up $570 (1%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 236 in Tulsa, up 33 points (16%).
Tulsa, OK
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 Tulsa and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 3% cheaper than Winston Salem
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Winston Salem
$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,087 in Winston Salem, so Tulsa is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $35, or $420 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Tulsa's median income is 1% higher than Winston Salem
Tulsa
Winner$59,838
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Tulsa (about $570 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
14% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 14% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Winston Salem. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Winston Salem, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Tulsa. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
23% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 23% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa 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
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,052 a month. Choose Tulsa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($59,838), 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
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 14% lower than Tulsa (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Winston Salem: Winston Salem scores 38/100 versus 34/100 in Tulsa, with typical rent at $1,087 versus $1,052. I would vet the exact ZIP in Tulsa before trading 4 safety points for housing savings.
With only $35 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Winston Salem clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Tulsa deserves a serious look only when you already know the Tulsa 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 Tulsa and Winston Salem, plus other cities in OK and NC.
