Winston-Salem vs Irving: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Winston-Salem, NC and Irving, TX, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricWinston-Salem, NCIrving, TX
Population249,571254,962
Median household income$54,416$76,686
Median home value$187,400$259,500
Median rent (/mo)$956$1,423

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Winston-Salem, NC and Irving, TX comes down to what you value most. Winston-Salem has the lower median home value, and Winston-Salem has the lower median rent.

Irving has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Winston-Salem or Irving?
By median home value, Winston-Salem is the cheaper of the two ($187,400 vs $259,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Winston-Salem or Irving?
Median household income is $54,416 in Winston-Salem versus $76,686 in Irving, per the US Census Bureau.

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