Is Fort Worth cheaper than Winston Salem?

No. Winston Salem is cheaper: typical rent is $1,138 a month versus $1,723 in Fort Worth — 34% lower. Median household income is $72,726 in Fort Worth compared with $72,400 in Winston Salem, so Fort Worth has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Fort Worth or Winston Salem?

Winston Salem is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Fort Worth — 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, Fort Worth or Winston Salem?

School composites are close: A- in Fort Worth and A- in Winston Salem. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Fort Worth, TX vs Winston Salem, NC

Fort Worth, 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 $1,723 a month in Fort Worth and $1,138 in Winston Salem, and median household income lands at $72,726 versus $72,400. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Fort Worth takes job market, while Winston Salem takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Winston Salem leads by 34% — 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 Fort Worth can feel further apart than Fort Worth and Winston Salem do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Fort Worth and Winston Salem reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Fort Worth report Full Winston Salem report

Fort Worth, TX

Rent: $1,723/mo
Median income: $72,726
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Winston Salem, NC

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

Rent

34% cheaper

Winston Salem rent is 34% cheaper than Fort Worth

Fort Worth

$1,723/mo

Winston Salem

Winner

$1,138/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,138 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,723 in Fort Worth, so Winston Salem is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $585/month back in your pocket — $7,020/year. Over five years that's $35,100 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 Fort Worth, 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

1% higher

Fort Worth's median income is 1% higher than Winston Salem

Fort Worth

Winner

$72,726

Winston Salem

$72,400

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,726 in Fort Worth versus $72,400 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Fort Worth — about $326 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

11% lower crime

Winston Salem's crime index is 11% lower than Fort Worth

Fort Worth

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 Fort Worth (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 Fort Worth. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Fort Worth and Winston Salem are about even on school scores.

Fort Worth

A- · 84/100

Winston Salem

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Fort Worth, A- in Winston Salem). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

16% more comfortable

Winston Salem weather is 16% more comfortable than Fort Worth

Fort Worth

92°F typical

Winston Salem

Winner

Comfort 52/100

What this means for your life

Winston Salem scores 16% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Fort Worth reads as hot, long summers; Winston Salem reads as a mixed climate. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Winston Salem is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Fort Worth can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Fort Worth

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($72,726). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Fort Worth 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 34% 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 Fort Worth on this page's weather index by 16%. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth (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

Fort Worth 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, Fort Worth pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Fort Worth vs Winston Salem FAQ

Is Fort Worth cheaper than Winston Salem?: No. Winston Salem is cheaper: typical rent is $1,138 a month versus $1,723 in Fort Worth — 34% lower. Median household income is $72,726 in Fort Worth compared with $72,400 in Winston Salem, so Fort Worth has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Fort Worth or Winston Salem?: Winston Salem is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Fort Worth — 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, Fort Worth or Winston Salem?: School composites are close: A- in Fort Worth and A- in Winston Salem. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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