Winston-Salem 63 Average
Winston-Salem Livability #372 ranked city in North Carolina#14,502 ranked city in the USARanks better than 50% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Winston-Salem

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Crime

    Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.

  • Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

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What's it like Living in Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem, North Carolina is a large city with a population of 245,787 people. Winston-Salem is mostly populated by White (55%) and Black or African American (34%) ethnic groups. Winston-Salem is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 47%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Winston-Salem offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to figure out if living in Winston-Salem is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in North Carolina, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like crime, cost of living, commute and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Winston-Salem and in the areas around Winston-Salem is a much easier task.

With a livability score of 66/100, Winston-Salem is ranked #10,271 in the United States and #216 in North Carolina. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Winston-Salem has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (B). Regrettably for Winston-Salem, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (D-), crime (F) and employment (D-).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Winston-Salem has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Winston-Salem is real estate affordability. The median home price for Winston-Salem homes is $152,000, which is 3.2% lower than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Winston-Salem, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.2, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Winston-Salem

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Winston-Salem?

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Compare Winston-Salem, NC Livability

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      Winston-Salem transportation information

      Statistic Winston-Salem North Carolina National
      Average one way commute21min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work79.3%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.1%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.2%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.3%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home6.4%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Winston-Salem, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).