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Winston-Salem, NC Area Profile

Winston-Salem, North Carolina Area, NC

Cost of Living

A quick read on everyday affordability around Winston-Salem, with the main cost drivers separated for scanning.

Composite Index

95.8

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Cost of living summary
MetricValue
Composite cost index95.8
Grocery index9.1
Housing index8.6
Transportation index7.2

What to Watch

  • For Winston-Salem, the useful affordability read is the mix of housing, utilities, and local income rather than one headline number.
  • Home values sit in a moderate range where taxes and utilities still change the monthly math.
  • Use Clemmons, NC as a same-state comparison point before treating one NC value as typical.
View North Carolina cost of living report

Utilities

Monthly utility patterns and baseline household costs for power, water, gas, and fuel.

Electric Rate Consumption

Monthly electric index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
222834456274485667826157

Water Consumption

Monthly water index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
664844363026343733554958

Gas Rate (CCF)

Monthly gas index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
283643526147556349455257
Everyday utility costs
MetricValue
Electricity rate$0.160/kWh
Gasoline price$3.28/gal
Water bill avg$48/mo
Gas rate$1.18/CCF
View North Carolina utilities report

Demographics

Population, age mix, education, and income context for understanding the local community.

Population Age Pyramid

Age mix index
Age bandMaleFemale
0-96864
10-197571
20-348378
35-499290
50-6410097
65-748488
75+7279

Income Distribution

Income bracket index
BracketIndex
Under $35k72
$35k-$49k88
$50k-$74k100
$75k-$99k79
$100k+52

Annual Income Distribution

Median household$63,200
Per capita$33,900
Poverty rate9.8%
Community snapshot
MeasureEstimate
Population250,887
Median age35.6
Bachelor+37.2%

Schools

School performance and classroom context in a compact local snapshot.

Test Score Trends

Test score trend
201920202021202220232024
424851575964

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Utility Index

7.9

School snapshot
IndicatorValue
Math proficiency53%
Reading proficiency58%
Student-teacher ratio14:1

Helpful Context

  • School comparisons around Winston-Salem are most useful when paired with district boundaries and commute patterns.
  • A single score rarely explains the full school picture for Winston-Salem; program fit and attendance zones matter too.
  • Nearby city pages can help separate Winston-Salem-specific signals from broader North Carolina patterns.

Local Economy

A simple labor-market snapshot showing local job mix, wages, and workforce size.

Industry Job Types

Industry job mix
IndustryShareIndex
Manufacturing31%74
Agriculture26%64
Healthcare19%52
Retail14%39
Other Services10%31
Local economy snapshot
MetricValue
Unemployment3.7%
Median wage$57,673
Labor force264

Climate

Winter avg: 15 degrees F - Summer avg: 82 degrees F - Snowfall: 43 in

Local Takeaways

  • The labor market is comparatively tight, which can support local wage stability for Winston-Salem and the surrounding North Carolina labor market.
  • The median household income value is $57,673 when ACS data is available for this place.
  • Use the economy card with housing and taxes to judge whether Winston-Salem works for a specific household budget.

Real Estate

Home values, property taxes, and rental context in one housing-focused snapshot.

Median Home Value Trend

Median home value trend
201920202021202220232024
$154k$161k$172k$181k$186k$189k

Property Tax Breakdown

  • County levy: 42%
  • School district: 34%
  • City/other: 24%
Housing and tax snapshot
IndicatorValue
Median home value$208,200
Median property tax paid$1,964
Estimated state sales tax rate7.39%
Rent (2-bed)$1,033/mo
View North Carolina property tax report

Climate

A compact view of weather patterns and natural-risk context for the area.

Avg High (Jul)82°F
Avg Low (Jan)8°F
Humidity72%

Climate Snapshot

Reference
Now--
Condition--
Wind--
Today--

Climate context is provided for planning and comparison.

Climate snapshot
MeasureValue
Sunny days196
Annual snowfall43 in
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate

Planning Notes

  • Seasonal weather can change the practical cost picture in Winston-Salem, especially for heating, cooling, and maintenance.
  • Utility planning matters because electricity is in a moderate range, with usage habits driving the final bill.
  • Compare climate and insurance sections together before using Winston-Salem as a relocation shortlist.

Insurance

Location-based risk and cost pressure signals that can affect insurance pricing.

Risk IndexModerate
Weather RiskMedium
Cost PressureLow
Insurance summary
IndicatorEstimate
Insurance cost index95
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate
Primary local riskWinter weather

What Affects Rates

  • Median property tax paid is $1,964, so taxes should be checked with insurance and mortgage assumptions.
  • Local claims history, coverage limits, deductibles, and property condition can outweigh broad NC averages.
  • Compare with Clemmons, NC for a broader read on North Carolina insurance pressure.
View North Carolina insurance report

Winston-Salem Facts

Fast factual reference points for Winston-Salem, combining available ACS, EIA, and BLS signals.

Winston-Salem, NC facts
FactValueSource context
Population250,887ACS place estimate
Median household income$57,673ACS household estimate
Median home value$208,200ACS housing estimate
Median age35.6ACS demographic estimate
Bachelor+ share37.2%ACS education estimate
Residential electric rate$0.160/kWhEIA state residential rate

Helpful Context

  • Winston-Salem is treated as a large-city profile in this dashboard.
  • City-specific ACS values are used when the place matches; state-level API values fill statewide measures.
  • Use these facts as a fast NC screen before checking address-level records or provider quotes.

Winston-Salem Local Data Brief

This section is generated from cached city metrics and clearly labeled state-level benchmarks. It is meant to make the Winston-Salem page less generic and more useful for comparing housing, income, utilities, taxes, insurance, demographics, and nearby alternatives.

Winston-Salem, NC local metrics and source context
MetricValueHow to read it
Population250,887Winston-Salem is treated as a large-city place for comparison.
Median household income$57,673Income sits in the middle range, making recurring bills worth watching.
Median home value$208,200Home values sit in a moderate range where taxes and utilities still change the monthly math.
Two-bedroom rent$1,033/moRent gives a renter-side affordability baseline beside owner costs.
Median property tax paid$1,964Property tax should be read with mortgage, insurance, and home value.
Residential electric rate$0.160/kWhThis is a state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility quote.
Unemployment3.7%This is a state-level BLS labor-market benchmark.
Median age35.6Age mix can affect housing demand, commute needs, and school planning.
Bachelor+ share37.2%Education mix can help frame labor-market and school-context questions.

Affordability Summary

Population is 250,887, so Winston-Salem should be compared with similar-size places before using broader North Carolina averages. Median household income is $57,673, so the best affordability read for Winston-Salem is income versus housing, taxes, utilities, and insurance together.

Median home value is $208,200, so ownership costs in Winston-Salem should be checked with mortgage, property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions. Two-bedroom rent is $1,033/mo, so renters can compare Winston-Salem against ownership costs and nearby rental markets.

Housing and Income Context

For Winston-Salem, income sits in the middle range, making recurring bills worth watching. Home values sit in a moderate range where taxes and utilities still change the monthly math.

Use the home value, rent, and income fields together before deciding whether Winston-Salem looks more favorable for renting, buying, or comparing with Clemmons, NC.

Utility Cost Context

The residential electricity benchmark is $0.160/kWh, so Winston-Salem households should treat usage, home size, heating, and cooling as the practical bill drivers. The electricity value shown for Winston-Salem is a North Carolina state-level EIA benchmark, so it should not be read as a local provider tariff.

For Winston-Salem, utility planning is stronger when the electric benchmark is paired with home age, square footage, insulation, HVAC equipment, and household occupancy.

Property Tax Context

Median property tax paid is $1,964, so Winston-Salem buyers should still verify parcel-specific tax records before budgeting. Parcel boundaries, exemptions, school districts, and reassessment rules can move the actual bill for a Winston-Salem address.

Compare the property tax field with home value rather than reading it by itself; a lower tax bill can still pair with a different assessment base or exemption profile.

Insurance and Risk Context

Insurance costs in Winston-Salem depend on address-level factors such as roof condition, structure age, coverage limits, claims history, deductible choice, and carrier underwriting.

Home value, tax burden, and insurance exposure should be reviewed together for Winston-Salem, especially when comparing with Clemmons, NC.

Population and Demographics

Median age is 35.6, so Winston-Salem may have different school, commute, healthcare, and housing demand patterns than a statewide average. Bachelor+ share is 37.2%, so Winston-Salem education context can be useful when reading labor-market and school sections.

Unemployment is 3.7%, so Winston-Salem wage and job-market context should be compared with commute options and regional employment centers.

Nearby North Carolina comparison pages
PlacePopulationHome valueElectric benchmark
Walkertown, NC5,793$231k$0.160/kWh
Wallburg, NC3,104$292k$0.160/kWh
Clemmons, NC21,574$307k$0.160/kWh
Rural Hall, NC3,421$184k$0.160/kWh

Source Notes

  • City-specific Census ACS values are used when a matching place row exists in the cached city metrics file.
  • Electricity and unemployment fields are state-level EIA and BLS benchmarks, so they are labeled as planning context rather than city quotes.
  • The page should be used as a comparison screen before checking provider rates, parcel records, insurance quotes, school boundaries, and address-level details for Winston-Salem.

Winston-Salem Cost Drill-Down

This dashboard keeps the fast local overview on one page, while the linked category reports go deeper into one decision at a time. For Winston-Salem, the strongest local signals in the current cache are population 250,887, median household income $57,673, median home value $208,200, rent $1,033/mo, property tax paid $1,964, and the North Carolina residential electric benchmark $0.160/kWh.

Winston-Salem category drill-down links and metric context
CategoryPrimary valueSecond valueWhy it matters here
Cost of living $57,673 $208,200 Winston-Salem affordability is mostly a housing-versus-income read: income sits in the middle range, making recurring bills worth watching and home values sit in a moderate range where taxes and utilities still change the monthly math.
Utility costs $0.160/kWh $1,033/mo Winston-Salem utility planning should pair the North Carolina electric benchmark with home size, cooling load, appliance use, and occupancy.
Property taxes $1,964 $208k Winston-Salem tax planning should compare the tax-paid field with home value, exemptions, assessment rules, and parcel-level records.
Insurance costs 35.6 37.2% Winston-Salem insurance context should be read with housing age, replacement cost, roof condition, claim history, and nearby risk patterns.

Budget Fit

Winston-Salem should be read as a large-city place where income, home value, rent, taxes, utilities, and insurance need to be checked together. Income sits in the middle range, making recurring bills worth watching, and home values sit in a moderate range where taxes and utilities still change the monthly math.

Monthly Bills

The electricity value on this page is a North Carolina state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility tariff. For Winston-Salem, that benchmark becomes useful when paired with home square footage, cooling load, HVAC age, insulation, and household usage.

Ownership Costs

Median property tax paid is $1,964 and median home value is $208,200. That makes the ownership read stronger than a single price estimate because taxes, insurance, maintenance, and financing terms can move the real monthly cost.

Comparison Angle

Use Clemmons, NC as a local comparison before using a broad NC average. The nearby table below keeps the comparison tied to home value, taxes, and electric benchmarks instead of alphabetical city links.

Labor and Demographics

Unemployment is 3.7%, median age is 35.6, and bachelor-plus share is 37.2%. These fields help frame school demand, commute patterns, wage fit, and service-provider availability around Winston-Salem.

Source Discipline

City-specific ACS values are used where the place matches the cache. State-level EIA and BLS fields are labeled as benchmarks, so this page does not pretend those values are address-level or city-utility quotes.

Nearby comparison context for Winston-Salem
PlaceDistanceHome valueProperty taxElectric benchmark
Walkertown, NC 6 mi $231k $1,446 $0.160/kWh
Wallburg, NC 8 mi $292k $1,619 $0.160/kWh
Clemmons, NC 9 mi $307k $2,340 $0.160/kWh
Rural Hall, NC 9 mi $184k $1,347 $0.160/kWh
Midway, NC 9 mi $250k $1,318 $0.160/kWh

Data Freshness

This Winston-Salem, North Carolina dashboard was generated on 2026-06-18. The city metrics cache was refreshed on 2026-06-16; the nearby-city coordinate cache was refreshed on 2026-06-17.

  • City metrics: Census ACS place fields are city-specific where a matching place record exists.
  • State benchmarks: EIA electricity and BLS unemployment values are state-level context, not city provider tariffs or city labor surveys.
  • Nearby comparisons: Distance uses cached Census Gazetteer place coordinates when available.

Regional Data Explorer

Zoom out from Winston-Salem to nearby cities, North Carolina Area, and North Carolina benchmarks.

Open Explorer
Nearby Cities North Carolina Hub North Carolina Cost Benchmarks

Benchmark Preview

Winston-Salem 95.8
Home value
$189k
Property tax
$2,190
Electric rate
$0.154/kWh
County Avg 97.4
Home value
$178k
Property tax
$2,240
Electric rate
$0.158/kWh
NC Avg 101.2
Home value
$286k
Property tax
$3,180
Electric rate
$0.162/kWh

Local Service Cost Guides

Use these contractor-cost guides with the Winston-Salem dashboard to compare local housing, utility, tax, climate, and repair-cost context.

Plumber Rates for Winston-Salem $85-$165/hr planning range. Leak, drain, fixture, water heater, and emergency plumbing cost planning. Opens the deepest available state guide for Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Open state guide HVAC Installation for Winston-Salem $5,500-$14,500 planning range. AC, furnace, heat pump, ductwork, and seasonal system replacement planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Open national guide Roof Replacement for Winston-Salem $8,000-$24,000 planning range. Roof replacement, leak repair, flashing, ventilation, and storm-exposure planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Open national guide Electrician Rates for Winston-Salem $90-$175/hr planning range. Panel, outlet, EV charger, lighting, wiring, and inspection cost planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Open national guide

Data note: City-profile values are local estimates for comparison and planning context.