Living in Winston-Salem, NC
Big city in North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a big city in North Carolina, home to about 251,000 people, with 894,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Winston-Salem a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $260k and rents for $1,610 a month
- Low natural disaster risk: 5 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: GSO is 18 mi away
👎 Cons
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Few dog parks: 7 within 9 mi
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Fewer family amenities than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Winston-Salem ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Winston-Salem: common questions
What is the cost of living in Winston-Salem?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $260k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,610 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Winston-Salem?
North Carolina collects about $1,615 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.94% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Winston-Salem safe?
Winston-Salem isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.
What is the weather like in Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem has cool winters: winter days average around 51°F and summer days around 86°F, with roughly 6″ of snow a year.
Does Winston-Salem get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.32 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Winston-Salem?
The nearest major airport is GSO, about 18 mi away.
How Winston-Salem scores
Each bar compares Winston-Salem with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Winston-Salem right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.