The Town FilesWinston-Salem, North Carolina
City in Forsyth County · population 249,545 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,800
- Household income
- $59,268
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.9
Winston-Salem is a city of 249,545 people in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $233,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 97% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 96% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 94% of North Carolina towns.
How Winston-Salem ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Winston-Salem is worth $233,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $59,268, which is more affordable than 47% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,087 a month. 55.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winston-Salem | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,087 | $969 |
| Median household income | $59,268 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Winston-Salem
| People | Winston-Salem | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Winston-Salem
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 30.7°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winston-Salem since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 8, 2008 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 14, 1984.
Severe weather in Forsyth County since 1996
Forsyth County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Forsyth County
Forsyth County had 192,587 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Winston-Salem itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Winston-Salem
58 public schools with 32,016 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| R J Reynolds High | 9-12 | 1,747 | 18.0 |
| Parkland High | 9-12 | 1,638 | 16.7 |
| Mount Tabor High School | 9-12 | 1,393 | 17.9 |
| Atkins Academic & Tech High | 9-12 | 1,190 | 17.5 |
| Clemmons Middle School | 6-8 | 1,149 | 18.8 |
| Oak Grove High | 9-12 | 986 | 19.3 |
| Hanes Magnet School | 6-8 | 900 | 16.1 |
| Meadowlark Middle | 6-8 | 827 | 16.5 |
| Kimmel Farm Elementary | PK-5 | 826 | 16.2 |
| Meadowlark Elementary | PK-5 | 809 | 13.9 |
| Wiley Magnet Middle | 6-8 | 783 | 15.4 |
| Speas Elementary | PK-5 | 770 | 15.7 |
Towns near Winston-Salem
- Walkertown, NC6.1 mi · 5,692 people · home $236,900
- Wallburg, NC8.1 mi · 3,051 people · home $343,700
- Clemmons, NC8.5 mi · 21,163 people · home $335,800
- Rural Hall, NC8.6 mi · 3,351 people · home $189,600
- Midway, NC9.1 mi · 4,742 people · home $274,100
- Lewisville, NC9.1 mi · 13,381 people · home $325,400
- Kernersville, NC10.0 mi · 26,449 people · home $290,700
- Tobaccoville, NC10.1 mi · 2,578 people · home $234,200
Winston-Salem questions
Is Winston-Salem, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winston-Salem scores better for retirees than 15% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 7%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Winston-Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Winston-Salem is valued at $233,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,268, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,087 a month.
What is the weather like in Winston-Salem?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 30.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 6.0 inches of snow.
Does Winston-Salem get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winston-Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 8, 2008. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)