City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Safety is where Wichita and Winston Salem split most clearly. Winston Salem scores 123 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $975 in Wichita and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
Wichita 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 Wichita is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Winston Salem has rougher pockets and Wichita has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Wichita and Winston Salem are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, up $112 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $5,352 (8%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 203 in Winston Salem, down 123 points (38%).
The move
Winston Salem and Wichita are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $975 a month in Wichita, down $112 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $64,620 in Wichita, up $5,352 (9%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 326 in Wichita, up 123 points (61%).
Wichita, KS
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 Wichita and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Wichita rent is 10% cheaper than Winston Salem
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Winston Salem
$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,087 in Winston Salem, so Wichita is 10% 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 $1,344, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Wichita still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Winston Salem.
Planning to buy in Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Wichita's median income is 9% higher than Winston Salem
Wichita
Winner$64,620
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Wichita (about $5,352 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
38% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 38% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Winston Salem. 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, Winston Salem is the easier city. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
14% more comfortable
Wichita weather is 14% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Wichita
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Wichita scores 14% 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
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita 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 9% higher ($64,620), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°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 38% lower than Wichita (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 24/100 in Wichita, with typical rent at $1,087 versus $975. I would vet the exact ZIP in Wichita before trading 14 safety points for housing savings.
With only $112 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Wichita and 57°F in Winston Salem.
If safety drives your move, Winston Salem is the stronger match (38/100 safety versus 24/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Wichita, treat $975/month rent and $64,620 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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