City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Winston Salem and Frisco is significant: $59,268 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,087 in Winston Salem and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco 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 Frisco 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
Winston Salem and Frisco are 963 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $927 a month (85%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $150,212 in Frisco, up $90,944 (153%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 43 in Frisco, down 160 points (79%).
The move
Frisco and Winston Salem are 963 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $927 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $90,944 (61%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 203 in Winston Salem, up 160 points (372%).
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Winston Salem and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 46% cheaper than Frisco
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Winston Salem is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $927/month back in your pocket ($11,124/year). Over five years that's $55,620 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 Frisco, 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 Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
153% higher
Frisco's median income is 153% higher than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
$59,268
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 153% higher in Frisco (about $90,944 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, Frisco 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
79% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 79% lower than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% lower in Frisco. 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, Frisco 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
33% more comfortable
Frisco weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Frisco
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Frisco sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Frisco scores 33% 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
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 46% 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.
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 153% higher ($150,212), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 79% lower than Winston Salem (43 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
Safety is the widest gap: Frisco scores 86/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem. Rent is $2,014/month in Frisco and $1,087/month in Winston Salem, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,087 in Winston Salem and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is ahead on safety (86/100 vs 38/100); Winston Salem is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,087/month rent plus $59,268 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
Ready to move to Frisco?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Frisco when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Winston Salem and Frisco, plus other cities in NC and TX.
