Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Winston-Salem.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem, NC has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 73 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $208,200 and median rent about $1,033, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $57,673. Typical commute is 21 minutes; summer highs average 86°F. Official citywide FBI crime rates are currently unavailable, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level check.
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 73U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $208,200U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,033U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $57,673U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 21 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- UnavailableFBI gap
- Summer high
- 86°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Winston-Salem compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 255,769City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $57,673Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year27% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 73ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year27% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $208,200City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year31% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,033City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year23% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 21 min16% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 2838% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Summer high
- 86°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (87°F)U.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 33°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (34°F)U.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 43.2 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals31% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 240As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Winston-Salem grew 11.2% from 230,022 in 2010 to 255,769 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Winston-Salem expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Winston-Salem's housing cost index is 73 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($208,200 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,033 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 73 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $208,200 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,033 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Winston-Salem?
Typical ownership costs center near $208,200, while median gross rent is about $1,033 a month. Against a median household income of $57,673, rent alone is roughly 21% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $208,200
- Median rent $1,033/month
- Median household income $57,673
What is the job market like in Winston-Salem?
County unemployment recently ran 3.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Winston-Salem is about $57,673 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $57,673
How long is the typical commute in Winston-Salem?
Average one-way commute time is about 21 minutes, with Walk Score near 28/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 21 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 28/100
Is Winston-Salem safer than similar U.S. cities?
MapsToIt could not publish a usable FBI agency crime rate for Winston-Salem in the latest pull. Treat safety as a block-by-block research task and check local PD reports.
- FBI citywide rates: data unavailable
What is the climate like year-round in Winston-Salem?
Normals show summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 33°F, about 43.2 inches of rain, and roughly 240 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 86°F
- Winter low 33°F
- 43.2 in rain · 240 sunny days
Winston-Salem (pop. 255,769) sits in North Carolina. Median household income is roughly $57,673, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 73 — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs (100 ≈ U.S. average). Entry home prices around $208,200 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Winston-Salem is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Winston-Salem with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Piedmont research corridors and coastal storm exposure both matter. The normals show about 43.2 inches of rain and 240 sunny days across a typical year. Plan on roughly 21 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 28. Unemployment recently ran near 3.9%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Official FBI agency crime rates were not published for this place in the latest pull, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level research task.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Winston-Salem city, 1600000US3775000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Forsyth County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093807 WINSTON SALEM RYNLDS AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10
Canonical profile · All North Carolina cities · Full city index