Winston-Salem and Evansville receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Winston-Salem
Evansville
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 47%
vs60 · Top 42%
Growth
62 · Top 30%
vs54 · Top 42%
Climate
78 · Top 7%
vs74 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
57 · Top 48%
vs49 · Bottom 41%
Housing affordability
93 · Bottom 45%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
89 · Top 27%
vs98 · Top 7%
Economic stability
55 · Top 44%
vs71 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Winston-Salem | Evansville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 689,766 | 270,494 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,975 | $68,232 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,543 | $39,665 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 343/sq mi | 263/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $233,300 | $204,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,016 | $986 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.2% | 70.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.8% | 29.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 12.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,629 | 816 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.7 | 3.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -3.2% | 11.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.2" | 47.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 23 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 22.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Winston-Salem
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Evansville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, strong wind.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Winston-Salem
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Evansville
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Winston-Salem, NC Metro Area · Evansville, IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology