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 255,400 people. Winston-Salem is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (55%) and Black or African American (34%). 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.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the town before actually living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. To help you find the best places to live in and around Winston-Salem, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, commute, housing and more.
With a livability score of 63 out of 100, Winston-Salem is ranked #14,502 in the United States and #372 in North Carolina. For each of the livability categories, we know that Winston-Salem ranks very well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Winston-Salem does not rank well for, including: amenities (D-), crime (F) and employment (D). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Winston-Salem excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Winston-Salem is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Winston-Salem come in at $268,440, which is 7.3% lower than the North Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Winston-Salem, the home price to income ratio is 3.8, which is 7.3% lower than the North Carolina average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| 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% |
Here are the best places to live in North Carolina
These are the largest cities in North Carolina
Most Dangerous States In The US
See the best places to live in Winston-Salem