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METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Winston-Salem Metro

Winston-Salem, NC · 5 counties · 488,125 residents · 2,009.002 sq mi
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The short version

Winston-Salem has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $29,218. Population has declined 14% since 2000. Median home value is $68,338.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 34.5
US median: 33.0
Average education
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 10%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
488,125
−14%vs 2000
vs 569,207 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
243 / sq mi
−14%vs 2000
vs 283 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
Median age
34.5
−6%vs 2000
vs 36.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
468K528K589K649K710K1990201020202024Winston-Salem
2024690K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$29,218
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $40,479 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,571
−31%vs 2000
vs $21,135 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
10.3%
−0.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 10.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$68,338
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $100,377 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$364
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $495 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
69.6%
−1.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 71.1% in 2000
30.4% rent
Afford Score
2.3
−6%vs 2000
vs 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
1990
White, non-Hispanic81.9%(399,774)
Black17.2%(83,920)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(3,081)
Asian0.5%(2,430)
Other0.4%(2,001)
Diversity Score38.5%(188,148)
Diversity Score
39
−18%vs 2000
vs 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.6%
−3.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 21.2% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
71.4%
−6.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 77.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
5.3%
−1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 6.6% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.5 min
+28%vs 2000
vs 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+131%
Home value$214,329+214%
Population777,607+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Greensboro
Income$65,866+125%
Home value$237,517+248%
Population805,945+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Deltona
Income$71,355+144%
Home value$322,299+372%
Population746,933+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Toledo
Income$65,600+125%
Home value$179,767+163%
Population599,376−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Winston-Salem, NC?

Winston-Salem, NC has about 488,125 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Winston-Salem, NC earns about $29,218 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 $68,338, and the typical rent is about $364 a month.

How educated are people in Winston-Salem, NC?

About 17.6% 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 10.3% of people in Winston-Salem, NC live below the federal poverty line.

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

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