Winston-Salem appears moderately affordable relative to its own citywide benchmarks: median gross rent ($1,087) represents about 22% of median monthly household income ($4,939), which is below the 30% affordability threshold often used for housing costs. However, this is a citywide average and does not reflect neighborhood-level variation in costs or income. The uniform non-housing calculator baseline of $1,250 per month is a model assumption, not a local observation, and should not be interpreted as actual local expenses.
Winston-Salem at a glance
What the default budget models
A one-person renting household begins with a modeled annual core-cost baseline of $28,044. It combines the ACS median gross-rent estimate with a uniform $1,250 monthly non-housing baseline. State income tax is excluded until a current official reference is approved; the calculator labels that limitation instead of guessing.
| 2024 ACS population estimate | 252,037 |
| 2024 ACS median household income | $59,268 |
| 2024 ACS median gross rent | $1,087 |
| 2024 ACS median owner-occupied home value | $233,800 |
| Derived one-way commute estimate | 23 minutes |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded — official reference pending |
| Rent-to-income reference | 22% |
The trade-off
Relative strength: Median rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability thresholds.. Watch closely: lower housing costs may reflect tradeoffs in income, job access, or neighborhood conditions not captured in citywide averages..
Compare Winston-Salem
Frequently asked questions
Is Winston-Salem affordable for renters based on 2024 ACS data?
Yes, based on citywide 2024 ACS data, median gross rent ($1,087) is about 22% of median monthly household income ($4,939), which falls below the 30% benchmark often used to assess rental affordability. This is a citywide average and does not guarantee affordability for all individuals or neighborhoods.
How does Winston-Salem's median home value compare to its median income?
The median owner-occupied home value is $233,800, which is approximately 3.9 times the median household income of $59,268. This ratio suggests moderate home affordability relative to income, though actual affordability depends on down payment, interest rates, and other costs not included in ACS data.
Source ledger
Every production input below is retained with its publisher and dataset. The ACS figures are five-year estimates, not live listings or guarantees.
- PopulationU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B01003
- Median household incomeU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B19013
- Median gross rentU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25064
- Median owner-occupied home valueU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25077
- Commute-time distributionU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B08303
Interpretation: The ACS 2024 five-year estimates generally summarize observations across 2020–2024. The commute number is a weighted midpoint estimate from table B08303. State income tax is not included in the modeled take-home result. Verify a current address, quote, commute, and tax situation before making a decision.