Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
17%
Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,124
Population
257,957
Renter Mix
48% Rent
The City of Arts and Innovation lives up to its title
Artistic
•
Innovative
•
Vibrant
•
Active
•
Historic
•
Winston-Salem combines historic architecture with contemporary living spaces for renters exploring North Carolina's Piedmont region. The city spans from the preserved Moravian settlement of Old Salem to the revitalized Downtown District, where converted lofts and modern apartments create desirable rental options. Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts enhance the local arts scene, while the Innovation Quarter has reimagined former tobacco warehouses into a center for technology and biomedical research. Current rental trends show one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,090, while three-bedroom units average $1,530.
Downtown Winston-Salem showcases the city's dedication to arts and innovation through the Stevens Center and numerous galleries. The Reynolda House Museum of American Art offers residents a window into American cultural heritage. Historic neighborhoods like West End feature rental properties with period details, while Ardmore provides housing options near Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Salem Lake's trail system and the preserved landscapes of Reynolda Gardens. The city's Moravian influence appears in its architecture and community celebrations, most notably during winter when Moravian stars illuminate the cityscape.
Explore the City
Winston-Salem skyline
The Old Salem Historic District dates back to 1766
Fall in Salem Lake Park
The Winston-Salem Air Show is a popular event
Demographics
Median Household Income
$53,811
Average: $76,654
Education
71,819
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
121,637
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Winston-Salem has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
48%
Non-Renters
52%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
24%
Other Education
76%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Winston-Salem, NC is $1,026 for a studio, $1,125 for one bedroom, $1,246 for two bedrooms, and $1,548 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Winston-Salem has decreased by 0.0% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,125/month
704 Sq Ft
House
$2,239/month
1,513 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,293/month
865 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,638/month
1,165 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC is 10.6% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Winston-Salem is 26.5% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,017 - $1,552. You can expect to pay 2.3% less for groceries, 6.0% less for utilities, and 10.3% less for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Winston-Salem, NC is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Minimal Public Transit
Transit
10
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
831 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
554 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
545 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
650 Students
Public
Grades K-8
579 Students
Public
Grades K-8
579 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
409 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
800 Students
Public
Grades K-12
673 Students
Public
Grades K-12
451 Students
Atkins Acadmic & Technology High
Public
Grades 9-12
1,192 Students
Early College Of Forsyth County
Public
Grades 9-12
285 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
958 Students
Public
Grades K-12
673 Students
Public
Grades K-12
451 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Children's Museum of Winston-Salem
- Old Salem Museums & Gardens
- Reynolda Gardens
- SciWorks Science Center
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Piedmont Triad International
Top Apartments in Winston-Salem
Houses for Rent in Winston-Salem
Property Management Companies in Winston-Salem, NC
Parr Investments
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11
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2,769
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3
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11 Communities in Winston-Salem
Carlisle Residential Properties
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37
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17
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9 Communities in Winston-Salem
Hawthorne Residential Partners
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247
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59,629
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111
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8 Communities in Winston-Salem
Apartment Dynamics
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48
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6,797
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25
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5 Communities in Winston-Salem
Greystar
-
3,499
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962,359
Units
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891
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4 Communities in Winston-Salem
Synco Properties
-
11
Communities
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2,381
Units
-
9
Cities
4 Communities in Winston-Salem
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.