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City · 252,037 residents · Forsyth County, North Carolina

Winston-Salem , North Carolina

In Winston-Salem, a typical home is worth $233,800 and typical rent is $1,087 a month. Compared with all of Forsyth County, typical household income is 12% lower, the typical home value is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $233,800

    7% below the county

    19% below North Carolina

    • Winston-Salem
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,087a month

    About the same as the county

    11% below North Carolina

    • Winston-Salem
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $59,268a year

    12% below the county

    18% below North Carolina

    • Winston-Salem
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    56%

    8 points below the county

    11 points below North Carolina

    • Winston-Salem
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$260,047
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,478 a month
4.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Winston-Salem is in Forsyth County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Forsyth County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Winston-Salem apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in King, the typical rent is $895: 18% less than in Winston-Salem ($1,087).

  2. 56% of households in Winston-Salem own their home, against 64% in Forsyth County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Winston-Salem

What homes there are in Winston-Salem, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Winston-Salem, but it weighs less than in Forsyth County: 62% against 67%.

Year built

The typical year built in Winston-Salem is 1981, about the same as in Forsyth County (1984).

Homes in Winston-Salem are smaller: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Forsyth County, 62%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Winston-Salem sit under the FHA limit for Forsyth County ($541,287): about 90%.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Winston-Salem cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,332): about 67%.

With a mortgage

$1,459 a month

Forsyth County: $1,500 a month

Without a mortgage

$486 a month

Forsyth County: $478 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Forsyth County: 63%

Owning costs about the same in Winston-Salem as in Forsyth County: with a mortgage, $1,459 a month; without one, $486.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Winston-Salem rose at about the same pace as in Forsyth County: 58% against 57%.

Rents in Winston-Salem rose at about the same pace as in Forsyth County: 35% since 2015–2019, against 35%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 30%, while home values changed +58% and rent +35%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWinston-SalemForsyth CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.8%7.5%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.3%1.0%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.7%2.3%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.352.372.442.53
Drive alone 72%74%72%69%
Carpool 10%8%9%9%
Public transit 1%1%1%3%
Walk or bike 2%2%2%3%
Work from home 14%15%16%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Winston-Salem look like those in Forsyth County: the rental vacancy rate is 7.8%.

Much as in Forsyth County, 2.7% of households in Winston-Salem have more than one person per room.

By size, households in Winston-Salem look like those in Forsyth County: 2.35 people on average.

The car rules in Winston-Salem: 72% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Winston-Salem?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Winston-Salem, worth $233,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income in Winston-Salem, which is $59,268 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $82,521 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Forsyth County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Winston-Salem. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,183 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,925

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$229,565
Total interest
$330,291
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,948 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,383 a month

  • Tight

    $1,383 to $1,778 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,778 a month

    Your payment · 39%

Compared with the typical household income in Winston-Salem ($59,268 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,925
Principal & interest$1,555
Property tax$170
Home insurance$97
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$103

You need at least $8,183 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Winston-Salem and Forsyth County

Winston-Salem is in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Winston-Salem's own numbers

Typical home value
$233,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,087
Typical yearly household income
$59,268
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.87%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Forsyth County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,332
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Forsyth County.

Everything about Forsyth County

Buying

Buying a home in Winston-Salem

A typical home in Winston-Salem is worth $233,800: 7% below the county and 19% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Winston-Salem ($59,268 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Winston-Salem 3.9 years
  • Forsyth 3.7 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Forsyth County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Forsyth County rose 101% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Forsyth County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.5% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +62% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +101% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Winston-Salem next to Forsyth County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Winston-Salem $233,800
  • Forsyth $250,400
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Winston-Salem $1,087
  • Forsyth $1,098
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Winston-Salem $59,268
  • Forsyth $67,165
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Winston-Salem next to Forsyth County and North Carolina
Measure Winston-Salem Forsyth County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $233,800 $250,400 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,087 $1,098 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $59,268 $67,165 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 56% 64% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,025 $1,984 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.87% 0.79% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 49% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Forsyth County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Winston-Salem

For a typical $233,800 home in Winston-Salem, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Winston-Salem's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,925a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,183
    Cash to close
    $15,197
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $103

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,883a month

    Down payment
    $11,690
    Cash to close
    $18,704
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $111

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,534a month

    Down payment
    $46,760
    Cash to close
    $53,774
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,750a month

    Down payment
    $35,070
    Cash to close
    $42,084
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Winston-Salem and for Forsyth County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Winston-Salem

0.87%of the home’s value each year

$2,025 a year for the typical owner in Winston-Salem.

  • Winston-Salem 0.87%
  • Forsyth 0.79%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Forsyth County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Forsyth County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
474
Of those, with NFIP insurance
45%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 45% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Winston-Salem

Typical rent in Winston-Salem is $1,087 a month: about the same as the county. In Winston-Salem, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Forsyth County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,332 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.62 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Forsyth County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,079 $20.75 $43,160
1 bedroom $1,224 $23.54 $48,960
2 bedrooms $1,332 $25.62 $53,280
3 bedrooms $1,754 $33.73 $70,160
4 bedrooms $2,135 $41.06 $85,400

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Winston-Salem

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Winston-Salem has 8 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,160 in 27107 to $1,590 in 27104.

5 of the 8 are above the fair market rent for Forsyth County ($1,332).

  • 27101 $1,370$1,800
  • 27103 $1,550$2,040
  • 27104 $1,590$2,090
  • 27105 $1,220$1,610
  • 27106 $1,500$1,980
  • 27107 $1,160$1,550
  • 27109 $1,500$1,980
  • 27110 $1,260$1,670

5 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Winston-Salem when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Winston-Salem

HUD lists 72 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Winston-Salem. These are the largest.

  • Ladeara Crest Estates Apts 2531 La Deara Crest Ln, Winston Salem 27105 245 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 116 · 3 bd: 121 · In service since 2000 · For families
  • Piedmont Park 1114 E 29th St, Winston Salem 27105 240 homes, 239 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem · Average payment: $199 a month · Average wait: 24 months (336) 917-6118
  • Crystal Towers 625 W 6th St, Winston Salem 27101 207 homes, 201 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem · Average payment: $290 a month · Average wait: 19 months (336) 917-6118
  • Sunrise Towers 801 N Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Winston Salem 27101 201 homes, 195 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem · Average payment: $206 a month · Average wait: 41 months (336) 917-6118
  • Skyline Village Apartments 1528 Bruce St, Winston Salem 27107 169 homes, 168 low-income · 2 bd: 168 · In service since 2021 · For families (336) 784-9707

See all 83 buildings in Forsyth County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Winston-Salem

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Forsyth County; 3 say they serve in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Winston-Salem

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Winston-Salem or Forsyth County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Winston-Salem the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Winston-Salem

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Winston-Salem, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Financial Pathways of the Piedmont

    7820 North Point Boulevard, Suite 100, Winston Salem · 3 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    336-896-1191-1102

  • Financial Pathways of the Piedmont - Winston-Salem Office

    7820 North Point Blvd, Suite #100, Winston Salem · 3 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    336-773-0286-104

  • Credit.org - North Carolina Branch

    615 Saint George Square Ct, Winston Salem · 5 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (800) 431-8157

Every agency in Forsyth County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Winston-Salem

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Winston-Salem

HUD’s record names them for Winston-Salem or Forsyth County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (336) 917-6118

One other authority has an office in Forsyth County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Forsyth County

These cities are also in Forsyth County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Forsyth County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Winston-Salem, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Forsyth County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Winston-Salem.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Winston-Salem

Short answers with the numbers for Winston-Salem and all of Forsyth County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Winston-Salem?

The typical home value in Winston-Salem is $233,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Forsyth County it is $250,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Winston-Salem?

Typical rent in Winston-Salem is $1,087 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Forsyth County is $1,332.

What is the FHA loan limit in Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem uses the FHA limit for all of Forsyth County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Winston-Salem?

The typical homeowner in Winston-Salem pays $2,025 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.87% of the home’s value; in Forsyth County, the rate is 0.79%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Winston-Salem?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Forsyth County. 3 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).