Kennewick WA 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)
Kennewick, WA
Washington · Population: 23,594
- Median HH Income$137,926
- Median Home Price$433,399
- Unemployment3.0%
- Bachelor's+57.1%
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
Kennewick
23,594
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Kennewick
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Kennewick
38.7
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
Kennewick
22.3%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Kennewick
67.9%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Kennewick
3.1%
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Winston-Salem +
Asian
Kennewick
14.8%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Kennewick
10.7%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Kennewick
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,594 | 118,578 | Winston-Salem + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 37.5 | Winston-Salem + |
| Foreign Born | 22.3% | 5.7% | Kennewick + |
| White | 67.9% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 3.1% | 14.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Asian | 14.8% | 1.3% | Kennewick + |
| Hispanic | 10.7% | 8.9% | Kennewick + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Kennewick
$137,926
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Kennewick
$70,195
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Kennewick
$76,120
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Kennewick
3.0%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Poverty Rate
Kennewick
6.0%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Kennewick
57.1%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
45.8%
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $137,926 | $63,900 | Kennewick + |
| Per Capita Income | $70,195 | $46,062 | Kennewick + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $76,120 | $59,120 | Kennewick + |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 4.6% | Kennewick + |
| Poverty Rate | 6.0% | 16.3% | Kennewick + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 57.1% | 45.8% | Kennewick + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Kennewick
$433,399
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Kennewick
69.7%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
46.8%
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $433,399 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.7% | 46.8% | Kennewick + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Kennewick
383
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
398
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Kennewick
3409
Winston-Salem
1999
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 383 | 398 | Kennewick + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 3409 | 1999 | Winston-Salem + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Kennewick
37.4%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Kennewick
10.9%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Kennewick
17.4%
Winston-Salem
17.4%
Tie
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Kennewick
13.1%
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Winston-Salem +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Kennewick
16.7%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Kennewick
11.6%
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 37.4% | 42.7% | Kennewick + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.9% | 13.1% | Kennewick + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.4% | 17.4% | Tie |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 13.1% | 12.8% | Winston-Salem + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.7% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.6% | 14.4% | Kennewick + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Kennewick
54.7°F
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Kennewick
7.7 in
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 54.7°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 7.7 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Kennewick
7.5 µg/m³
Kennewick +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Kennewick
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.5 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Kennewick + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Kennewick
32.4 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kennewick, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 32.4 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Kennewick leads in median household income at $137,926, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Kennewick is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Winston-Salem. Kennewick has a lower unemployment rate at 3.0%, and Kennewick has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Kennewick scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.4%.
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