Mount Vernon NY 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)
Mount Vernon, NY
New York · Population: 72,528
- Median HH Income$77,171
- Median Home Price$579,771
- Unemployment6.9%
- Bachelor's+35.0%
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
Mount Vernon
72,528
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Mount Vernon
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Mount Vernon
41.9
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
Mount Vernon
31.9%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Mount Vernon
16.2%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Mount Vernon
60.4%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Asian
Mount Vernon
2.2%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Mount Vernon
18.3%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Mount Vernon
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 72,528 | 118,578 | Winston-Salem + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 37.5 | Winston-Salem + |
| Foreign Born | 31.9% | 5.7% | Mount Vernon + |
| White | 16.2% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 60.4% | 14.9% | Mount Vernon + |
| Asian | 2.2% | 1.3% | Mount Vernon + |
| Hispanic | 18.3% | 8.9% | Mount Vernon + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Mount Vernon
$77,171
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Mount Vernon
$42,158
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Mount Vernon
$77,425
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Mount Vernon
6.9%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Mount Vernon
35.0%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $77,171 | $63,900 | Mount Vernon + |
| Per Capita Income | $42,158 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,425 | $59,120 | Mount Vernon + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 13.6% | 16.3% | Mount Vernon + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 35.0% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Mount Vernon
$579,771
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Mount Vernon
42.1%
Winston-Salem
46.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $579,771 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 46.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
434
Winston-Salem
398
Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
1736
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
1999
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 434 | 398 | Winston-Salem + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1736 | 1999 | Mount Vernon + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
33.2%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Winston-Salem +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Mount Vernon
16.3%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
9.3%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 33.2% | 42.7% | Mount Vernon + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.6% | 13.1% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.3% | 17.4% | Mount Vernon + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.3% | 12.8% | Mount Vernon + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 12.8% | 14.4% | Mount Vernon + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.8% | 14.4% | Mount Vernon + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | 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.)
Mount Vernon
8.1 µg/m³
Mount Vernon +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Mount Vernon
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Mount Vernon + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Mount Vernon
38.6 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Mount Vernon, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 38.6 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Mount Vernon leads in median household income at $77,171, 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 434 in Mount Vernon. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Mount Vernon has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Mount Vernon scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.2%.
Compare More Cities
Mount Vernon, NY vs New York, NYLos Angeles, CA vs Mount Vernon, NYChicago, IL vs Mount Vernon, NYHouston, TX vs Mount Vernon, NYMount Vernon, NY vs Phoenix, AZMount Vernon, NY vs Philadelphia, PA