Kinston, NC vs Melissa, TX
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.
Kinston
73.2
#774 nationally
Melissa
74.8
#551 nationally
Melissa leads in crime level (1.0 vs 26.3). Melissa leads in median household income ($138,465 vs $35,653). Kinston leads in average commute (19.1 min vs 32.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Kinston, NC | Melissa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.2 (#774) | 74.8 (#551) |
| Population | 19,411 | 23,571 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $147,755 | $430,394 |
| Median Household Income | $35,653 | $138,465 |
| Average Commute | 19.1 min | 32.6 min |
| Walk Score | 31 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 26.3 | 1.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 125 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+6.8 | R+11.2 |
Data coverage note: Melissa is missing data for 1 metric that Kinston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
C
74.8 Score
Melissa, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$430,394
Population
23,571
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$138,465
Southwest
View Melissa, TX →