City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where Winston Salem and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 69 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,087 in Winston Salem and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville 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 Huntsville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Huntsville has rougher pockets and Winston Salem has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Winston Salem and Huntsville are 369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $84 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $15,446 (26%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 134 in Huntsville, down 69 points (34%).
The move
Huntsville and Winston Salem are 369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $84 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $15,446 (21%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 203 in Winston Salem, up 69 points (51%).
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Winston Salem and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 7% cheaper than Huntsville
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so Winston Salem is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $84, or $1,008 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 Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Huntsville's median income is 26% higher than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
$59,268
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Huntsville (about $15,446 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, Huntsville 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
34% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 34% lower than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Huntsville. 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, Huntsville 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
3% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 3% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Huntsville
Winner58°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 80/100
Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs); Huntsville averages about 58°F (69°F highs). Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville scores 3% 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 7% 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 26% higher ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 58°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Winston Salem (134 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 Huntsville: Huntsville scores 51/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem, with typical rent at $1,171 versus $1,087. I would vet the exact ZIP in Winston Salem before trading 13 safety points for housing savings.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Huntsville's $1,171, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,087 in Winston Salem and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville 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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