City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
The cost gap between Winston Salem and Richmond is the real story here. Winston Salem comes in 21% cheaper on typical rent ($1,087 vs $1,372), which over a year adds up to $3,420. Median household income runs $59,268 in Winston Salem and $64,587 in Richmond.
This is a genuine split. Winston Salem wins on cost of living and Richmond wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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 Richmond are 184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $285 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $64,587 in Richmond, up $5,319 (9%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 169 in Richmond, down 34 points (17%).
The move
Richmond and Winston Salem are 184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $285 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $5,319 (8%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 203 in Winston Salem, up 34 points (20%).
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Winston Salem and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 21% cheaper than Richmond
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,372 in Richmond, so Winston Salem is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $285/month back in your pocket ($3,420/year). Over five years that's $17,100 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 Richmond, 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 Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Richmond's median income is 9% higher than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
$59,268
Richmond
Winner$64,587
Median household income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Richmond (about $5,319 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
17% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 17% lower than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
Neck and neck
Winston Salem and Richmond are about even on typical weather.
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
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 21% 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 and professional growth
Richmond is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($64,587). Start with Richmond if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Winston Salem (169 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Winston Salem at $1,087/month versus $1,372 in Richmond ($285 apart). Richmond median income is $64,587 against $59,268 in Winston Salem, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Richmond's $1,372, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Winston Salem clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Richmond deserves a serious look only when your $64,587 income offer in Richmond outweighs saving $285/month in Winston Salem.
Common questions
Ready to move to Richmond?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Richmond when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Winston Salem and Richmond, plus other cities in NC and VA.
