City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Winston Salem split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 141 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach and Winston Salem are 243 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $627 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $33,700 (36%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 203 in Winston Salem, up 141 points (227%).
The move
Winston Salem and Virginia Beach are 243 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $627 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $33,700 (57%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 141 points (69%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 37% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Winston Salem is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $627/month back in your pocket ($7,524/year). Over five years that's $37,620 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 Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 57% higher than Winston Salem
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Virginia Beach (about $33,700 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, Virginia Beach 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
69% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 69% lower than Winston Salem
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach 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
6% more comfortable
Virginia Beach weather is 6% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Virginia Beach
Winner59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°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. Virginia Beach scores 6% 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 57% higher ($92,968), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 69% lower than Winston Salem (62 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 37% 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
Safety is the widest gap: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem. Rent is $1,714/month in Virginia Beach and $1,087/month in Winston Salem, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Virginia Beach; Winston Salem only makes sense when you have walked the Winston Salem ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,087 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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