Is Austin cheaper than Winston Salem?

No. Winston Salem is cheaper: typical rent is $1,138 a month versus $1,852 in Austin — 39% lower. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $72,400 in Winston Salem, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Austin or Winston Salem?

Winston Salem is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Austin — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Austin or Winston Salem?

Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Winston Salem — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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City comparison

Austin, TX vs Winston Salem, NC

Austin, TX versus Winston Salem, NC is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,852 a month in Austin and $1,138 in Winston Salem, and median household income lands at $86,556 versus $72,400. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Austin takes job market and schools, while Winston Salem takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Winston Salem leads by 39% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Austin can feel further apart than Austin and Winston Salem do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Austin and Winston Salem reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Austin report Full Winston Salem report

Austin, TX

Rent: $1,852/mo
Median income: $86,556
Crime index: 109
Schools: A
Weather: 91°F

Winston Salem, NC

Rent: $1,138/mo
Median income: $72,400
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: —

Rent

39% cheaper

Winston Salem rent is 39% cheaper than Austin

Austin

$1,852/mo

Winston Salem

Winner

$1,138/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,138 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,852 in Austin, so Winston Salem is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $714/month back in your pocket — $8,568/year. Over five years that's $42,840 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 Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Winston Salem is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

20% higher

Austin's median income is 20% higher than Winston Salem

Austin

Winner

$86,556

Winston Salem

$72,400

What this means for your life

Median household income is $86,556 in Austin versus $72,400 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Austin — about $14,156 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, Austin 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

11% lower crime

Winston Salem's crime index is 11% lower than Austin

Austin

109 (100 = avg)

Winston Salem

Winner

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Winston Salem's crime index is 97 versus 109 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Winston Salem. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Winston Salem, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

5% higher scores

Austin's school scores are 5% higher than Winston Salem

Austin

Winner

A · 88/100

Winston Salem

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

Austin grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Winston Salem — school scores run 5% higher in Austin. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Winston Salem is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

8% more comfortable

Winston Salem weather is 8% more comfortable than Austin

Austin

91°F typical

Winston Salem

Winner

Comfort 52/100

What this means for your life

Winston Salem scores 8% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Austin reads as hot, long summers; Winston Salem reads as a mixed climate. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Austin's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Winston Salem is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($86,556). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Parents — or anyone planning kids in the next few years — should weight Austin first. School scores run 5% higher (A vs A-). Winston Salem only wins the school argument if you already have a specific campus in mind that beats this composite.

Open the Austin report →

Fit check

Who should choose Winston Salem

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,138 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.

Pick Winston Salem if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (more comfortable outdoor days) beat Austin on this page's weather index by 8%. Austin may pay more or cost less, but Winston Salem is the city where the forecast fights you less.

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 11% lower than Austin (97 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.

Open the Winston Salem report →

Bottom line

Austin vs Winston Salem, called

If cost of living is your priority, Winston Salem is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Austin pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Winston Salem offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Austin vs Winston Salem FAQ

Is Austin cheaper than Winston Salem?: No. Winston Salem is cheaper: typical rent is $1,138 a month versus $1,852 in Austin — 39% lower. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $72,400 in Winston Salem, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Austin or Winston Salem?: Winston Salem is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Austin — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Austin or Winston Salem?: Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Winston Salem — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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