Austin, TX vs Kinston, NC
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Kinston
73.2
#774 nationally
Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $35,653). Kinston leads in cost of living index (87 vs 129). Kinston leads in average commute (19.1 min vs 26.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Kinston, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 73.2 (#774) |
| Population | 967,862 | 19,411 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $147,755 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $35,653 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 19.1 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 31 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 26.3 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 87 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | R+6.8 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
C
73.2 Score
Kinston, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$147,755
Population
19,411
Crime
Very High
Walk Score
31
Southeast
View Kinston, NC →