Is Madison cheaper than Winston Salem?

No. Winston Salem is cheaper: typical rent is $1,138 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 33% lower. Median household income is $74,895 in Madison compared with $72,400 in Winston Salem, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Madison or Winston Salem?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 97 in Winston Salem — 27% 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, Madison or Winston Salem?

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

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City comparison

Madison, WI vs Winston Salem, NC

Madison, WI 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 $1,694 a month in Madison and $1,138 in Winston Salem, and median household income lands at $74,895 versus $72,400. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Madison takes job market, safety, and weather, while Winston Salem takes affordability. The widest gap is typical weather, where Madison leads by 73% — 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 Madison can feel further apart than Madison and Winston Salem do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Madison and Winston Salem reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Madison report Full Winston Salem report

Madison, WI

Rent: $1,694/mo
Median income: $74,895
Crime index: 71
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Winston Salem, NC

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

Rent

33% cheaper

Winston Salem rent is 33% cheaper than Madison

Madison

$1,694/mo

Winston Salem

Winner

$1,138/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,138 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,694 in Madison, so Winston Salem is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $556/month back in your pocket — $6,672/year. Over five years that's $33,360 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 Madison, 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

3% higher

Madison's median income is 3% higher than Winston Salem

Madison

Winner

$74,895

Winston Salem

$72,400

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,895 in Madison versus $72,400 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Madison — about $2,495 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

27% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 27% lower than Winston Salem

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

Winston Salem

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 97 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Madison. 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, Madison is the easier city. Winston Salem can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Madison and Winston Salem are about even on school scores.

Madison

A- · 84/100

Winston Salem

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Madison, 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

73% more comfortable

Madison weather is 73% more comfortable than Winston Salem

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

Winston Salem

Comfort 52/100

What this means for your life

Madison scores 73% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Madison reads as mild, livable temperatures; 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. Madison is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Winston Salem 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 Madison

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 3% higher ($74,895), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Winston Salem (71 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 Madison report →

Fit check

Who should choose Winston Salem

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 33% 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.

Open the Winston Salem report →

Bottom line

Madison vs Winston Salem, called

If weather is your priority, Madison is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Winston Salem pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Madison vs Winston Salem FAQ

Is Madison cheaper than Winston Salem?: No. Winston Salem is cheaper: typical rent is $1,138 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 33% lower. Median household income is $74,895 in Madison compared with $72,400 in Winston Salem, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Madison or Winston Salem?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 97 in Winston Salem — 27% 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, Madison or Winston Salem?: School composites are close: A- in Madison and A- in Winston Salem. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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