Winston-Salem, NC, known as 'The Twin City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in the northwestern part of North Carolina, Winston-Salem is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Greensboro and High Point enhance its status as a central point in the region. Winston-Salem's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Winston-Salem is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, the historic Old Salem Museums & Gardens, and the scenic Tanglewood Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful BB&T Ballpark to the bustling Hanes Mall, known for its shopping and dining. Winston-Salem's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Southern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the National Black Theatre Festival and the Winston-Salem Open highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Winston-Salem's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Wake Forest University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Winston-Salem is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Winston-Salem provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Winston-Salem’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Winston-Salem Dash (MiLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Winston-Salem include healthcare, education, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Hanesbrands Inc. driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient and accessible.
Cost Of Living
Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Amenities
The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.
Crime
Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.
Health & Safety
Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina is a large city with a population of 245,787 people. Winston-Salem is mostly populated by White (55%) and Black or African American (34%) ethnic groups. Winston-Salem is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 47%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Winston-Salem offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Winston-Salem is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in North Carolina, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like crime, cost of living, commute and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Winston-Salem and in the areas around Winston-Salem is a much easier task.
With a livability score of 66/100, Winston-Salem is ranked #10,271 in the United States and #216 in North Carolina. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Winston-Salem has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (B). Regrettably for Winston-Salem, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (D-), crime (F) and employment (D-).
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Winston-Salem has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Winston-Salem is real estate affordability. The median home price for Winston-Salem homes is $152,000, which is 3.2% lower than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Winston-Salem, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.2, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average.
| Statistic | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.3% | 81.1% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.1% | 9.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.2% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.4% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
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