Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Households earn $10,840 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
48% less violent crime than Kansas City
Rent averages $175/mo less ($956 vs $1,131)
Homes cost $22k less ($187,400 vs $208,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kansas City by $10,840/yr
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$10,840
$65,256 vs $54,416/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
48% lower
809.7 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$22k less
$187,400 vs $208,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 249,571 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Winston-Salem wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Kansas City to Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $187,400 median home), income ($65,256 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Winston-Salem, NC are about 809 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.