Winston-Salem and El Paso 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
El Paso
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 49%
vs58 · Top 44%
Growth
50 · Bottom 42%
vs44 · Bottom 34%
Climate
78 · Top 22%
vs64 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 39%
vs66 · Top 36%
Housing affordability
80 · Top 26%
vs91 · Top 7%
Access
92 · Bottom 24%
vs93 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 16%
vs45 · Bottom 26%
Measured values
| Metric | Winston-Salem | El Paso | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 252,037 | 680,130 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,268 | $59,745 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,345 | $29,956 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,885/sq mi | 2,628/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $233,800 | $184,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 | $1,073 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.6% | 60.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.5% | 28.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 18.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,521 | 1,624 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.1 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -1.6% | -11.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.2" | 8.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 16 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 24.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.9 | 34.5 | 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.
El Paso
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Winston-Salem
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
El Paso
66
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Winston-Salem, NC · El Paso, TX · How this is calculated: methodology