Best Life Index › States › North Carolina › Cities › Winston-Salem

North Carolina city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Winston-Salem?

What it costs to live in Winston-Salem, and how it compares with other North Carolina cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

44

42nd best value in North Carolina

How much you get for what you pay, versus other North Carolina cities.

Overall livability

29

63rd overall in North Carolina

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Winston-Salem is home to about 247,917 people. A typical home runs $158,600 and a household earns around $50,200, a price-to-income ratio of 3.2. Among North Carolina's largest cities, it ranks 42nd for value and 63rd overall.

Winston-Salem at a glance

Median home price

$158,600

28th in NC of 71

Median rent

$871/mo

Median household income

$50,200

Home price to income

3.2x

Unemployment

5.8%

37th in NC of 71

School rating

3/10

49th in NC of 71

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NC of 71

Walk score

30/100

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‹ See all top North Carolina cities ranked  ยท  North Carolina state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within North Carolina only. Updated 2026.