01 · the cities
Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is Moravian cookie traditions, old tobacco wealth (R.J. Reynolds), and Krispy Kreme's hometown (the original hot doughnut sign is still here). Old Salem is a living history Moravian village downtown. The food scene has picked up nicely, the arts scene leans on the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Slower-paced than its Triad neighbors. A little secret.
full dispatch→Kingsport
Kingsport is a planned 'model city' built by the Eastman Chemical Company in the early 1900s, with a downtown laid out in deliberate grids and the company still dominating the local economy. It's in the Tri-Cities area (with Bristol and Johnson City), tucked into the Appalachian foothills. Bays Mountain Park and the South Fork Holston River give it strong outdoor access. Quietly orderly.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,508/mo
$1,383/mo
$125/mo less than Winston-Salem (9%)
Median home price
Median home price
$283k
$244k
$39k less than Winston-Salem
State income tax
State income tax
4.5%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,450/mo
$6,950/mo
Kingsport has $500/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
186 days
188 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
8 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
6 days
15 days
days below 20°F per year
Winston-Salem has 7 more days above 95°F each year than Kingsport. Kingsport drops below 20°F on 9 more days per year than Winston-Salem.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
54 / 100
59 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of Winston-Salem
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
0 routes
4 routes
4 more direct routes than Winston-Salem
Metro size
Metro size
696k metro
312k metro
the verdict
1
Winston-Salem
categories won
7
Kingsport
categories won
Kingsport wins this comparison, leading on money and lifestyle.
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