Kansas City KS 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)
Kansas City, KS
Kansas · Population: 154,776
- Median HH Income$59,183
- Median Home Price$202,558
- Unemployment5.5%
- Bachelor's+20.2%
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
Kansas City
154,776
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
118,578
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Kansas City
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Kansas City
34.0
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
37.5
Foreign Born
Kansas City
18.6%
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Kansas City
44.0%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Kansas City
20.4%
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Asian
Kansas City
5.3%
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Kansas City
35.0%
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Kansas City
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 154,776 | 118,578 | Kansas City + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.5 | Kansas City + |
| Foreign Born | 18.6% | 5.7% | Kansas City + |
| White | 44.0% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 20.4% | 14.9% | Kansas City + |
| Asian | 5.3% | 1.3% | Kansas City + |
| Hispanic | 35.0% | 8.9% | Kansas City + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Kansas City
$59,183
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Income
Kansas City
$28,059
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Kansas City
$61,860
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Kansas City
5.5%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Kansas City
17.9%
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Winston-Salem +
Bachelor's Degree+
Kansas City
20.2%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $59,183 | $63,900 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Income | $28,059 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $61,860 | $59,120 | Kansas City + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 17.9% | 16.3% | Winston-Salem + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 20.2% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Kansas City
$202,558
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Homeownership Rate
Kansas City
60.4%
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
46.8%
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $202,558 | $265,013 | Kansas City + |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% | 46.8% | Kansas City + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Kansas City
449
Winston-Salem
398
Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Kansas City
2174
Winston-Salem
1999
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 449 | 398 | Winston-Salem + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2174 | 1999 | Winston-Salem + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Kansas City
41.2%
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Kansas City
14.6%
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Winston-Salem +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Kansas City
17.6%
Winston-Salem
17.4%
Winston-Salem +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Kansas City
18.4%
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Winston-Salem +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Kansas City
15.3%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Kansas City
18.3%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 41.2% | 42.7% | Kansas City + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 14.6% | 13.1% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.6% | 17.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 18.4% | 12.8% | Winston-Salem + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.3% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 18.3% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Kansas City
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Kansas City
38.1 in
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 38.1 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Kansas City
8.2 µg/m³
Kansas City +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Kansas City
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Kansas City + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Kansas City
23.7 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 23.7 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Winston-Salem leads in median household income at $63,900, while kansas City offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $202,558. On public safety, Winston-Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 449 in Kansas City. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Kansas City has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Kansas City scores better with a lower obesity rate of 41.2%.
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