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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Winston-Salem Metro

Winston-Salem, NC · 5 counties · 675,966 residents · 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 $52,844. Population has grown 19% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $158,436.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
675,966
+19%since 2000
from 569,207 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
336 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 283 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
41.2
+13%since 2000
from 36.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
468K528K589K649K710K1990201020202024Winston-Salem
2024690K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,844
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,479 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,697
+41%since 2000
from $21,135 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.1%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.3%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.5%
US avg: 10%
Information11.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$158,436
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,377 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$778
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $495 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
66.5%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
33.5% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+21%since 2000
from 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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic65.4%(442,388)
Black17%(114,680)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(77,803)
Asian1.8%(12,196)
Other2.8%(18,847)
Diversity Score64.3%(434,493)
Segregation Score46.9%(316,719)
Diversity Score
64
+37%since 2000
from 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
47
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 21.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.6%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.0 min
+66%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 84.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
36.3%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
6.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.9%
−73.9 ptssince 2013
from 84.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+28%
Home value$214,329+35%
Population777,607+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Greensboro
Income$65,866+25%
Home value$237,517+50%
Population805,945+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Deltona
Income$71,355+35%
Home value$322,299+103%
Population746,933+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON-SALEM VS
Toledo
Income$65,600+24%
Home value$179,767+13%
Population599,376−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Winston-Salem, NC?

Winston-Salem, NC has about 675,966 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Winston-Salem, NC earns about $52,844 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 $158,436, and the typical rent is about $778 a month.

How educated are people in Winston-Salem, NC?

About 27.1% 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 15.3% 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 187,841 residents, a change of about 38 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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