Kent 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)
Kent, WA
Washington · Population: 84,389
- Median HH Income$72,867
- Median Home Price$657,911
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+27.0%
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
Kent
84,389
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Kent
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Kent
35.8
Kent +
Winston-Salem
37.5
Foreign Born
Kent
14.1%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Kent
67.2%
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Winston-Salem +
Black
Kent
2.3%
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Winston-Salem +
Asian
Kent
1.9%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Kent
31.8%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Kent
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 84,389 | 118,578 | Winston-Salem + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.5 | Kent + |
| Foreign Born | 14.1% | 5.7% | Kent + |
| White | 67.2% | 72.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Black | 2.3% | 14.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Asian | 1.9% | 1.3% | Kent + |
| Hispanic | 31.8% | 8.9% | Kent + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Kent
$72,867
Kent +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Kent
$35,662
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Kent
$76,120
Kent +
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Kent
4.9%
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate
Kent
13.9%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Kent
27.0%
Winston-Salem
45.8%
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $72,867 | $63,900 | Kent + |
| Per Capita Income | $35,662 | $46,062 | Winston-Salem + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $76,120 | $59,120 | Kent + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 4.6% | Winston-Salem + |
| Poverty Rate | 13.9% | 16.3% | Kent + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 27.0% | 45.8% | Winston-Salem + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Kent
$657,911
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Kent
62.8%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
46.8%
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $657,911 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 46.8% | Kent + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Kent
383
Kent +
Winston-Salem
398
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Kent
3409
Winston-Salem
1999
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 383 | 398 | Kent + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 3409 | 1999 | Winston-Salem + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Kent
25.7%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Kent
9.3%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Kent
17.2%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Kent
10.6%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Kent
15.7%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Kent
10.3%
Kent +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 25.7% | 42.7% | Kent + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.3% | 13.1% | Kent + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.2% | 17.4% | Kent + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 12.8% | Kent + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 10.3% | 14.4% | Kent + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Kent
53.2°F
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Kent
39.1 in
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 53.2°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 39.1 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Kent
7.5 µg/m³
Kent +
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Kent
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.5 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Kent + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Kent
23.0 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Kent, WA | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 23.0 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Kent leads in median household income at $72,867, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Kent is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and Kent has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Kent scores better with a lower obesity rate of 25.7%.
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