Cost of Living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
In Winston-Salem, the median household income is $59,268 and the median gross rent is $1,087/mo, with a median home value of $233,800. Source: Census Bureau ACS, 2020-2024 estimates.
- Median household income
- $59,268
- Median gross rent
- $1,087/mo
- Median home value
- $233,800
- Population
- 252,037
How Winston-Salem compares to the North Carolina average
| Measure | Winston-Salem, NC | North Carolina statewide | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,268 | $72,388 | -18.1% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $1,087 | $1,228 | -11.5% |
| Median home value | $233,800 | $288,900 | -19.1% |
Statewide, North Carolina prices average 94.3 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (2024), where the U.S. average is 100.
Housing affordability in Winston-Salem
- Salary needed for median rent
- $43,480
- Rent burden at median income
- 22.0%
- Est. affordable home price
- $216,206
So that $1,087/mo is 30% of gross income
Share of the median household income spent on median rent (30%+ = cost-burdened)
At median income, 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI
The median home value in Winston-Salem is $233,800 — +8.1% above what the median household income supports under these assumptions.
Estimates from documented formulas — see methodology. Not financial advice.
Cost of living in other North Carolina cities
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.