St. Petersburg 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)
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
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
St. Petersburg
260,646
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
118,578
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Petersburg
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
St. Petersburg
43.1
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
St. Petersburg
10.1%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
St. Petersburg
66.2%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
St. Petersburg
19.4%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Asian
St. Petersburg
3.1%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
St. Petersburg
9.3%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
St. Petersburg
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,646 | 118,578 | St. Petersburg + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 37.5 | Winston-Salem + |
| Foreign Born | 10.1% | 5.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| White | 66.2% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 19.4% | 14.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| Asian | 3.1% | 1.3% | St. Petersburg + |
| Hispanic | 9.3% | 8.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Petersburg
$73,118
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
St. Petersburg
$49,823
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Petersburg
$65,328
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
St. Petersburg
4.9%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
St. Petersburg
11.7%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Petersburg
41.3%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $73,118 | $63,900 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Income | $49,823 | $46,062 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $59,120 | St. Petersburg + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 11.7% | 16.3% | St. Petersburg + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.3% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Petersburg
$331,500
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
St. Petersburg
63.0%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
46.8%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $331,500 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 46.8% | St. Petersburg + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
324
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
398
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
1453
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
1999
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 398 | St. Petersburg + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1999 | St. Petersburg + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
32.7%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.2%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
11.1%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
16.6%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.4%
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.7% | 42.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 13.1% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.6% | 17.4% | St. Petersburg + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 12.8% | St. Petersburg + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.6% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 14.4% | St. Petersburg + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, 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.)
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Petersburg
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | St. Petersburg + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.8 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
St. Petersburg leads in median household income at $73,118, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Petersburg scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.7%.
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