Houston, 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Kinston
73.2
#774 nationally
Houston leads in median household income ($57,791 vs $35,653). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 31). Kinston leads in average commute (19.1 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Kinston, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 73.2 (#774) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 19,411 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $147,755 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $35,653 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 19.1 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 31 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 26.3 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 87 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+6.8 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, 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 →