Boca Raton FL vs Winston-Salem NC — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Boca Raton, FL
Florida · Population: 98,833
- Median HH Income$102,722
- Median Home Price$562,670
- Unemployment5.9%
- Bachelor's+60.4%
Winston-Salem, NC
North Carolina · Population: 118,578
- Median HH Income$63,900
- Median Home Price$265,013
- Unemployment4.6%
- Bachelor's+45.8%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Boca Raton
98,833
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Boca Raton
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Boca Raton
45.8
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
Boca Raton
20.0%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Boca Raton
77.2%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Black
Boca Raton
5.7%
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Winston-Salem +
Asian
Boca Raton
3.0%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Boca Raton
15.4%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Boca Raton
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 98,833 | 118,578 | Winston-Salem + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 45.8 | 37.5 | Winston-Salem + |
| Foreign Born | 20.0% | 5.7% | Boca Raton + |
| White | 77.2% | 72.9% | Boca Raton + |
| Black | 5.7% | 14.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Asian | 3.0% | 1.3% | Boca Raton + |
| Hispanic | 15.4% | 8.9% | Boca Raton + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Boca Raton
$102,722
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Boca Raton
$72,542
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Boca Raton
$65,328
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Boca Raton
5.9%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Boca Raton
9.4%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Boca Raton
60.4%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
45.8%
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $102,722 | $63,900 | Boca Raton + |
| Per Capita Income | $72,542 | $46,062 | Boca Raton + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $59,120 | Boca Raton + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 9.4% | 16.3% | Boca Raton + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 60.4% | 45.8% | Boca Raton + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Boca Raton
$562,670
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Boca Raton
65.8%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
46.8%
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $562,670 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.8% | 46.8% | Boca Raton + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Boca Raton
324
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
398
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Boca Raton
1453
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
1999
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 398 | Boca Raton + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1999 | Boca Raton + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
23.2%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
10.4%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Boca Raton
14.3%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
9.7%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
14.7%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
8.8%
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 23.2% | 42.7% | Boca Raton + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 13.1% | Boca Raton + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 14.3% | 17.4% | Boca Raton + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.7% | 12.8% | Boca Raton + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.7% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 8.8% | 14.4% | Boca Raton + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Boca Raton
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Boca Raton
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Boca Raton
7.2 µg/m³
Boca Raton +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Boca Raton
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Boca Raton + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Boca Raton
23.4 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 23.4 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Boca Raton leads in median household income at $102,722, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Boca Raton is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Boca Raton has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Boca Raton scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.2%.
Compare More Cities
Boca Raton, FL vs New York, NYBoca Raton, FL vs Los Angeles, CABoca Raton, FL vs Chicago, ILBoca Raton, FL vs Houston, TXBoca Raton, FL vs Phoenix, AZBoca Raton, FL vs Philadelphia, PA