Utica 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)
Utica, NY
New York · Population: 51,054
- Median HH Income$57,688
- Median Home Price$205,924
- Unemployment9.4%
- Bachelor's+36.8%
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
Utica
51,054
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Utica
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Utica
33.0
Utica +
Winston-Salem
37.5
Foreign Born
Utica
9.7%
Utica +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Utica
64.8%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Utica
16.9%
Utica +
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Asian
Utica
4.3%
Utica +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Utica
9.8%
Utica +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Utica
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Utica, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,054 | 118,578 | Winston-Salem + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 37.5 | Utica + |
| Foreign Born | 9.7% | 5.7% | Utica + |
| White | 64.8% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 16.9% | 14.9% | Utica + |
| Asian | 4.3% | 1.3% | Utica + |
| Hispanic | 9.8% | 8.9% | Utica + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Utica
$57,688
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Income
Utica
$35,780
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Utica
$77,425
Utica +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Utica
9.4%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Utica
23.8%
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Winston-Salem +
Bachelor's Degree+
Utica
36.8%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Utica, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $57,688 | $63,900 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Income | $35,780 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,425 | $59,120 | Utica + |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.4% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 23.8% | 16.3% | Winston-Salem + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.8% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Utica
$205,924
Utica +
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Homeownership Rate
Utica
36.8%
Winston-Salem
46.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Utica, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $205,924 | $265,013 | Utica + |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.8% | 46.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Utica
434
Winston-Salem
398
Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Utica
1736
Utica +
Winston-Salem
1999
| Metric | Utica, 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 | Utica + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Utica
39.6%
Utica +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Utica
14.1%
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Winston-Salem +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Utica
19.4%
Winston-Salem
17.4%
Winston-Salem +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Utica
11.1%
Utica +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Utica
15.2%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Utica
18.7%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Utica, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 39.6% | 42.7% | Utica + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 14.1% | 13.1% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.4% | 17.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 12.8% | Utica + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.2% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 18.7% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Utica
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Utica
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Utica, 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.)
Utica
8.1 µg/m³
Utica +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Utica
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Utica, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Utica + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Utica
22.7 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Utica, NY | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 22.7 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Winston-Salem leads in median household income at $63,900, while utica offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $205,924. On public safety, Winston-Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Utica. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Utica has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Utica scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.6%.
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