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METRO AREA

Winston-Salem Metro

Winston-Salem, NC · 5 counties · 712,206 residents (2025 est.) · 2,009.002 sq mi
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The short version

Winston-Salem has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,414. Population has grown 21% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $235,492.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
689,766
+21%since 2000
from 569,207 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
343 / sq mi
+21%since 2000
from 283 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.7
+11%since 2000
from 36.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:712,206 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
468K528K589K649K710K1990201020202024Winston-Salem
2024690K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,414
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,479 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,543
+78%since 2000
from $21,135 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.2%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
+3%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$235,492
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,377 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$995
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $495 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
30.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 40.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+43%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in Winston-Salem on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.1%(433,153)
Black16.9%(96,060)
Hispanic / Latino5%(28,744)
Asian0.8%(4,572)
Other0%
Diversity Score46.9%(266,991)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.8%(447,194)
Black16.8%(115,890)
Hispanic / Latino12.2%(84,395)
Asian1.8%(12,133)
Other4.4%(30,154)
Diversity Score66.8%(460,637)
Segregation Score43.6%(300,646)
Diversity Score
67
+42%since 2000
from 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
44
−7%since 2020
from 47 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.1%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 21.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.8%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.3 min
+68%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.7%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 84.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.0%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.5%
−22.6 ptssince 2009
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
7.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−40.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 12.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.6%
−75.2 ptssince 2013
from 84.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+14.3 ptssince 2017
from 75.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 89.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 8.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Winston-SalemCENTRAL257,271
What's inside

5 component counties

Forsyth CountyCENTRAL401,718Davidson CountyCENTRAL180,182Stokes CountyCENTRAL46,126Davie CountyCENTRAL45,855Yadkin County38,325
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Winston-Salem

Little Rock
Pop 777,607
Greensboro
Pop 805,945
Deltona
Pop 746,933
Toledo
Pop 599,376
Places similar to Winston-Salem
Head to head

Compare Winston-Salem side by side

WINSTON-SALEM VS
Little Rock
Income$67,436+2%
Home value$214,329−9%
Population777,607+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Greensboro
Income$65,866−1%
Home value$237,517+1%
Population805,945+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Deltona
Income$71,355+7%
Home value$322,299+37%
Population746,933+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Toledo
Income$65,600−1%
Home value$179,767−24%
Population599,376−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Winston-Salem, NC?

Winston-Salem, NC has about 689,766 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Winston-Salem, NC?

The typical household in Winston-Salem, NC earns about $66,414 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Winston-Salem, NC expensive?

In Winston-Salem, NC, the median home is worth about $235,492, and the typical rent is about $995 a month.

How educated are people in Winston-Salem, NC?

About 31.1% of adults age 25 and over in Winston-Salem, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Winston-Salem, NC?

About 13.5% of people in Winston-Salem, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Winston-Salem, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Winston-Salem, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 201,641 residents, a change of about 41 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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