Houston TX 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)
Houston, TX
Texas · Population: 2,300,419
- Median HH Income$62,894
- Median Home Price$265,062
- Unemployment6.7%
- Bachelor's+36.0%
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
Houston
2,300,419
Houston +
Winston-Salem
118,578
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Houston
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Houston
34.3
Houston +
Winston-Salem
37.5
Foreign Born
Houston
28.8%
Houston +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Houston
35.5%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Houston
22.9%
Houston +
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Asian
Houston
6.9%
Houston +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Houston
44.1%
Houston +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Houston
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | 118,578 | Houston + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.5 | Houston + |
| Foreign Born | 28.8% | 5.7% | Houston + |
| White | 35.5% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 22.9% | 14.9% | Houston + |
| Asian | 6.9% | 1.3% | Houston + |
| Hispanic | 44.1% | 8.9% | Houston + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Houston
$62,894
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Income
Houston
$41,142
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Houston
$63,758
Houston +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Houston
6.7%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Houston
19.7%
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Winston-Salem +
Bachelor's Degree+
Houston
36.0%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $62,894 | $63,900 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Income | $41,142 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $59,120 | Houston + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 19.7% | 16.3% | Winston-Salem + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.0% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Houston
$265,062
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Houston
42.0%
Winston-Salem
46.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $265,062 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 46.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Houston
442
Winston-Salem
398
Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Houston
2339
Winston-Salem
1999
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 398 | Winston-Salem + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 1999 | Winston-Salem + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Houston
38.0%
Houston +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Houston
13.9%
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Winston-Salem +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Houston
17.1%
Houston +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Houston
24.0%
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Winston-Salem +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Houston
16.7%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Houston
13.6%
Houston +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 38.0% | 42.7% | Houston + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.9% | 13.1% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.1% | 17.4% | Houston + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 24.0% | 12.8% | Winston-Salem + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.7% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.6% | 14.4% | Houston + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Houston
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Houston
48.7 in
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 48.7 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Houston
9.2 µg/m³
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Winston-Salem +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Houston
55.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Winston-Salem + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | Winston-Salem + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Houston
29.6 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Houston, TX | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 29.6 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, Winston-Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Houston. 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, Houston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 38.0%.
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