Charleston WV 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)
Charleston, WV
West Virginia · Population: 47,918
- Median HH Income$64,512
- Median Home Price$164,532
- Unemployment6.3%
- Bachelor's+44.1%
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
Charleston
47,918
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Charleston
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Charleston
42.6
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
Charleston
3.9%
Winston-Salem
5.7%
Winston-Salem +
White
Charleston
76.6%
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Black
Charleston
11.8%
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Winston-Salem +
Asian
Charleston
2.7%
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Charleston
1.9%
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Winston-Salem +
Spanish at Home
Charleston
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,918 | 118,578 | Winston-Salem + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 37.5 | Winston-Salem + |
| Foreign Born | 3.9% | 5.7% | Winston-Salem + |
| White | 76.6% | 72.9% | Charleston + |
| Black | 11.8% | 14.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Asian | 2.7% | 1.3% | Charleston + |
| Hispanic | 1.9% | 8.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Charleston
$64,512
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Charleston
$45,967
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Charleston
$50,163
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Winston-Salem +
Unemployment Rate
Charleston
6.3%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Charleston
16.5%
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Winston-Salem +
Bachelor's Degree+
Charleston
44.1%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $64,512 | $63,900 | Charleston + |
| Per Capita Income | $45,967 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $50,163 | $59,120 | Winston-Salem + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 16.5% | 16.3% | Winston-Salem + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 44.1% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Charleston
$164,532
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Homeownership Rate
Charleston
62.7%
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
46.8%
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $164,532 | $265,013 | Charleston + |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 46.8% | Charleston + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
398
Winston-Salem
398
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
1999
Winston-Salem
1999
Tie
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 398 | Tie |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1999 | Tie |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
40.2%
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
15.6%
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Winston-Salem +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Charleston
20.2%
Winston-Salem
17.4%
Winston-Salem +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Charleston
7.4%
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Charleston
14.3%
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Charleston
17.7%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 40.2% | 42.7% | Charleston + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 15.6% | 13.1% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 20.2% | 17.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 7.4% | 12.8% | Charleston + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.3% | 14.4% | Charleston + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 17.7% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
53.9°F
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
46.2 in
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 53.9°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.2 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Charleston
9.3 µg/m³
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Winston-Salem +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Charleston
55.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.3 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Winston-Salem + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | Winston-Salem + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Charleston
19.2 min
Charleston +
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 19.2 min | 20.0 min | Charleston + |
Which City is Right for You?
Charleston leads in median household income at $64,512, while charleston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $164,532. On public safety, Winston-Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Charleston. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Winston-Salem has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 40.2%.
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