Winston-Salem, NC Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Winston-Salem, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Winston-Salem →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Winston-Salem, North Carolina runs approximately 249,571. Median household income sits at $54,416, landing below the benchmark median we track across cities (-25%).
For renters and buyers alike, Winston-Salem offers a median home value of $187,400 (below the tracked median, -43%) and median rent of $956 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
Winston-Salem's home-price-to-income ratio of about 3.4× puts it in affordable territory — income here stretches further toward a home purchase than in many cities we track. Home values near Winston-Salem rose 3.54% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Winston-Salem runs on the lower side, per FEMA's Relatively Moderate rating.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $956/mo in Winston-Salem would take 21.1% of your income.
$404/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($187,400) would take 22.1% of your income toward principal & interest.
$269/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Winston-Salem
Median home value is $187,400 and median gross rent is $956/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Forsyth rose 3.54% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,232/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Winston-Salem's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Winston-Salem reported a violent crime rate of 744.7 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Winston-Salem
Planning a move to Winston-Salem? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC?
- Winston-Salem's key cost-of-living figures: $187,400 median home value, $956 median monthly rent, and $54,416 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Winston-Salem?
- Winston-Salem's median rent of $956/month works out to roughly $38,240 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Winston-Salem.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Winston-Salem?
- Winston-Salem's median rent of $956/month translates to about $38,240 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $42,876 a year for principal and interest on the $187,400 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Winston-Salem safe?
- In 2025, Winston-Salem reported 744.7 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Winston-Salem →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Winston-Salem's.