Tempe AZ 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)
Tempe, AZ
Arizona · Population: 186,419
- Median HH Income$77,643
- Median Home Price$468,328
- Unemployment5.7%
- Bachelor's+49.5%
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
Tempe
186,419
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
118,578
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Tempe
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Tempe
29.9
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
37.5
Foreign Born
Tempe
13.9%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Tempe
60.1%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Tempe
7.8%
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Winston-Salem +
Asian
Tempe
9.5%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Tempe
23.1%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Tempe
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 186,419 | 118,578 | Tempe + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 37.5 | Tempe + |
| Foreign Born | 13.9% | 5.7% | Tempe + |
| White | 60.1% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 7.8% | 14.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Asian | 9.5% | 1.3% | Tempe + |
| Hispanic | 23.1% | 8.9% | Tempe + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Tempe
$77,643
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Tempe
$42,371
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Tempe
$59,120
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Tempe
5.7%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Tempe
16.2%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Tempe
49.5%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
45.8%
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $77,643 | $63,900 | Tempe + |
| Per Capita Income | $42,371 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $59,120 | Tie |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 16.2% | 16.3% | Tempe + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 49.5% | 45.8% | Tempe + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Tempe
$468,328
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Tempe
41.6%
Winston-Salem
46.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $468,328 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.6% | 46.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Tempe
450
Winston-Salem
398
Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Tempe
2150
Winston-Salem
1999
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 450 | 398 | Winston-Salem + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2150 | 1999 | Winston-Salem + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Tempe
27.2%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Tempe
7.2%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Tempe
16.6%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Tempe
10.7%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Tempe
18.3%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Tempe
9.1%
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 27.2% | 42.7% | Tempe + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 7.2% | 13.1% | Tempe + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.6% | 17.4% | Tempe + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.7% | 12.8% | Tempe + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 18.3% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 9.1% | 14.4% | Tempe + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Tempe
71.3°F
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Tempe
9.3 in
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 71.3°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 9.3 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Tempe
7.1 µg/m³
Tempe +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Tempe
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.1 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Tempe + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Tempe
23.2 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 23.2 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Tempe leads in median household income at $77,643, 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 450 in Tempe. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Tempe has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tempe scores better with a lower obesity rate of 27.2%.
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