The Winston-Salem metro area: Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin counties · Population 689,766 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Winston-Salem area
Household size in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in the Winston-Salem area run small, averaging 2.46 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest. The Winston-Salem area has smaller households than the great majority of large metro areas.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in the Winston-Salem area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 39.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The Winston-Salem area is older than at least four in five large metro areas.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in the Winston-Salem area as they are nationally: 11.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Winston-Salem area
Renters in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.2% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.2% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in the Winston-Salem area own their homes; 30.8% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 42.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. The renter share is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the Winston-Salem area is close to the national rate: 9.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.5 points, mirroring the country. The Winston-Salem area has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five large metro areas.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in the Winston-Salem area is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $700 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $751 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $830 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,102 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$403 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the Winston-Salem area costs $1,102 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $403 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only two have lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Winston-Salem area
Bachelor's degrees in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over three in ten adults 25 and older in the Winston-Salem area (31.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.4% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Winston-Salem area is close to the national rate: 89.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Winston-Salem area
| Period | Winston-Salem area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in the Winston-Salem area is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.5 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Winston-Salem area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem area (all) | 2.46 | 41.5 | 11.8% | 30.8% | 9.9% | 1985 | $1,102 | 31.2% | 89.6% | 4.8% |
| Lexington | 2.47 | 43.2 | 11.8% | 28.2% | 10.7% | 1982 | $952 | 19.3% | 86.6% | 4.2% |
| Kernersville | 2.43 | 42.3 | 9.7% | 28.0% | 7.1% | 1993 | $1,281 | 34.9% | 91.9% | 4.4% |
| Thomasville | 2.53 | 40.7 | 14.4% | 32.4% | 8.9% | 1982 | $941 | 16.5% | 84.9% | 4.4% |
| Mount Airy | 2.33 | 43.5 | 12.0% | 29.9% | 10.8% | 1976 | $732 | 18.3% | 83.6% | 3.9% |
| Clemmons | 2.46 | 44.4 | 7.9% | 20.3% | 6.2% | 1995 | $1,428 | 46.2% | 93.4% | 4.3% |
| Mocksville | 2.69 | 42.3 | 10.3% | 21.6% | 11.2% | 1987 | $869 | 21.6% | 89.2% | 4.6% |
| King | 2.29 | 45.4 | 9.5% | 26.1% | 8.3% | 1985 | $937 | 22.7% | 93.9% | 2.6% |
| Lewisville | 2.67 | 43.3 | 8.4% | 12.8% | 4.1% | 1990 | $1,205 | 51.7% | 96.5% | 2.0% |
| Advance | 2.54 | 47.1 | 5.3% | 11.9% | 10.1% | 1993 | $947 | 37.7% | 95.1% | 5.2% |
| Yadkinville | 2.74 | 40.6 | 11.4% | 21.4% | 12.8% | 1985 | $876 | 17.3% | 86.2% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Ogden area · Wichita area · Syracuse area · Daytona Beach area · Provo area · Madison area · Poughkeepsie area · Akron area · Des Moines area · Lakeland area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Winston-Salem area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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