Bridgeport CT 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)
Bridgeport, CT
Connecticut · Population: 148,012
- Median HH Income$56,584
- Median Home Price$361,669
- Unemployment8.9%
- Bachelor's+23.1%
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
Bridgeport
148,012
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
118,578
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bridgeport
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Bridgeport
36.4
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
37.5
Foreign Born
Bridgeport
32.9%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Bridgeport
34.8%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Bridgeport
22.4%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Asian
Bridgeport
5.4%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Bridgeport
44.6%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Bridgeport
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 148,012 | 118,578 | Bridgeport + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.5 | Bridgeport + |
| Foreign Born | 32.9% | 5.7% | Bridgeport + |
| White | 34.8% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 22.4% | 14.9% | Bridgeport + |
| Asian | 5.4% | 1.3% | Bridgeport + |
| Hispanic | 44.6% | 8.9% | Bridgeport + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Bridgeport
$56,584
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Income
Bridgeport
$30,658
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bridgeport
$85,393
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Bridgeport
8.9%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Bridgeport
22.5%
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Winston-Salem +
Bachelor's Degree+
Bridgeport
23.1%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $56,584 | $63,900 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Income | $30,658 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $85,393 | $59,120 | Bridgeport + |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 22.5% | 16.3% | Winston-Salem + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 23.1% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bridgeport
$361,669
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Bridgeport
43.3%
Winston-Salem
46.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $361,669 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 46.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bridgeport
156
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
398
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bridgeport
1524
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
1999
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 156 | 398 | Bridgeport + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1524 | 1999 | Bridgeport + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bridgeport
33.5%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bridgeport
13.0%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bridgeport
18.3%
Winston-Salem
17.4%
Winston-Salem +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bridgeport
21.4%
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Winston-Salem +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bridgeport
14.0%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bridgeport
14.3%
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 33.5% | 42.7% | Bridgeport + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 13.1% | Bridgeport + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 18.3% | 17.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 21.4% | 12.8% | Winston-Salem + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.0% | 14.4% | Bridgeport + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 14.3% | 14.4% | Bridgeport + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bridgeport
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bridgeport
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | 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.)
Bridgeport
7.7 µg/m³
Bridgeport +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bridgeport
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.7 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Bridgeport + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bridgeport
31.6 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 31.6 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Winston-Salem leads in median household income at $63,900, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Bridgeport is safer with a violent crime rate of 156 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Bridgeport has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bridgeport scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.5%.
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