Greensboro receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Winston-Salem
Greensboro
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 34%
vs52 · Bottom 42%
Growth
53 · Top 45%
vs67 · Top 21%
Climate
78 · Top 20%
vs77 · Top 23%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 47%
vs63 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
80 · Bottom 49%
vs78 · Bottom 46%
Schools
33 · Bottom 26%
vs44 · Bottom 40%
Access
92 · Top 50%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 20%
vs49 · Bottom 31%
Measured values
| Metric | Winston-Salem | Greensboro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 252,037 | 301,198 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,268 | $61,515 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,345 | $37,531 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,885/sq mi | 2,243/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $233,800 | $244,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 | $1,172 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.6% | 50.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | -1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.5% | 41.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 17.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,521 | 2,042 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.0 | 6.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -1.6% | 27.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.2" | 44.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 23.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.9 | 34.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 65 | 82 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.81 | 16.09 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 29.3% | 35.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 38.4% | 43.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 83.3% | 87.5% | 2024-25 school 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.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Winston-Salem
61
Your Score
59
Area Score
Greensboro
66
Your Score
64
Area Score
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Full profiles: Winston-Salem, NC · Greensboro, NC · How this is calculated: methodology