CityCompare

West Palm Beach 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)

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

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
West Palm Beach
119,508
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
118,578
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
West Palm Beach
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
West Palm Beach
40.2
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
West Palm Beach
31.5%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Asian
West Palm Beach
2.5%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
West Palm Beach
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
West Palm Beach
$69,261
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
West Palm Beach
$44,508
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
West Palm Beach
$65,328
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
West Palm Beach
5.4%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
West Palm Beach
14.8%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
West Palm Beach
37.6%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
West Palm Beach
50.2%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
46.8%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
398
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
1999

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Winston-Salem +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Winston-Salem +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
13.0%
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
14.4%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
West Palm Beach
62.3 in
Winston-Salem
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
West Palm Beach
7.2 µg/m³
West Palm Beach +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
West Palm Beach
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
West Palm Beach
25.0 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +

Which City is Right for You?

West Palm Beach leads in median household income at $69,261, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, West Palm Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.1%.

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About West Palm Beach & Winston-Salem

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