Below Average CostHigh CrimeWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
Winston-Salem skyline · Indy beetle / CC0UpperQuad ACB · Jijithecat at English Wikipedia / Public domainShell-Shaped Shell Service Station, Waughtown, Winston-Salem, NC (49036350531) · Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States / CC0Old Salem-1 · David Bjorgen / CC BY-SA 3.0
Winston-Salem is a mid-sized city of 249,571 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $54,416
and a 6.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Winston-Salem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Winston-Salem is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Winston-Salem city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.4
Winston-Salem's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Winston-Salem costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Winston-Salem, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$187,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$956
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,416
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Winston-Salem's violent crime rate is 809.7 per 100,000 residents
— 113% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
809.7 /100k
Property Crime
2921.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Winston-Salem is served primarily by Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Winston-Salem, NC
National Avg
School District
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
44
—
Middle Schools
17
—
High Schools
18
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Winston-Salem sees average highs of 48.8°F in January
and 88.0°F in July,
with 43.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Winston-Salem's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Winston-Salem roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $187,400 and median rent is $956/month.
Winston-Salem's violent crime rate is 809.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2921.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Winston-Salem are operated by Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools.
The district has 44 elementary, 17 middle, and 18 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Winston-Salem, NC has a population of 249,571, a median household income of $54,416, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Winston-Salem averages 48.8°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.2 inches
with about 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Winston-Salem, NC is covered by 10 ZIP codes: 27105, 27107, 27106, 27103, 27127, 27104, 27101, 27040, 27109, 27110.
The population of Winston-Salem, North Carolina is 249,571 with a median age of 35.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Winston-Salem: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $187,400, median household income $54,416, crime index 183 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Winston-Salem side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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