Economy, jobs and prices in Winston-Salem, North Carolina: official figures
The median household income in Winston-Salem was $59,268 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 133rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the North Carolina median $72,388.
What is the per capita income in Winston-Salem?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Winston-Salem averaged $37,345 a year in 2020-2024, 314th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; North Carolina: $41,385).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.506 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 87th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
5.7% of the civilian labor force in Winston-Salem was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (6,994 people), 332nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and North Carolina's 4.7%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Winston-Salem have jobs?
116,265 residents of Winston-Salem held civilian jobs, 57.8% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 511 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Winston-Salem?
The largest industry group for working residents of Winston-Salem was education, health care and social assistance (29.1% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (11.5%) and professional, scientific, management and administrative services (10.8%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Winston-Salem work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 11.5% of working residents of Winston-Salem, 222nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 10.8% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
Commuters in Winston-Salem took 21.5 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 226th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 5.1% travelled an hour or more and 32.9% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Winston-Salem get to work?
14.1% of workers living in Winston-Salem worked from home in 2020-2024, 381st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 71.7% drove to work alone, 9.5% carpooled, 1.1% used public transport and 2.0% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Winston-Salem was $1,087 a month in 2020-2024, 127th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; North Carolina: $1,228).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Winston-Salem?
Owner-occupied homes in Winston-Salem had a median value of $233,800 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 163rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; North Carolina: $288,900).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Winston-Salem?
The median home value in Winston-Salem was 3.9 times the median household income, 299th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Winston-Salem have no internet?
8.0% of households in Winston-Salem (8,194) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 135th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 10.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Winston-Salem compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 691 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 688 | Edinburg | $59,466 |
| 689 | Peoria | $59,410 |
| 690 | Bryan | $59,289 |
| 691 | Winston-Salem | $59,268 |
| 692 | Lake Charles | $59,235 |
| 693 | Sherman | $58,859 |
| 694 | Bridgeport | $58,685 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 510 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 507 | Gardena | $37,529 |
| 508 | Davenport | $37,521 |
| 509 | Prescott Valley | $37,400 |
| 510 | Winston-Salem | $37,345 |
| 511 | Albany | $37,281 |
| 512 | Worcester | $37,221 |
| 513 | Chino | $37,217 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 87 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Baltimore | 0.508 |
| 85 | Jersey City | 0.507 |
| 86 | Tulsa | 0.506 |
| 87 | Winston-Salem | 0.506 |
| 88 | New Brunswick | 0.506 |
| 89 | Stamford | 0.506 |
| 90 | McAllen | 0.506 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 332 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 329 | Flagstaff | 5.7% |
| 330 | Bolingbrook | 5.7% |
| 331 | Gastonia | 5.7% |
| 332 | Winston-Salem | 5.7% |
| 333 | Lowell | 5.7% |
| 334 | Haverhill | 5.7% |
| 335 | Fountain Valley | 5.6% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 662 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 659 | Southfield | 61.6% |
| 660 | Abilene | 61.5% |
| 661 | Pinellas Park | 61.5% |
| 662 | Winston-Salem | 61.5% |
| 663 | Cathedral City | 61.5% |
| 664 | Lake Charles | 61.5% |
| 665 | El Monte | 61.5% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 598 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 595 | Columbus | 21.5 |
| 596 | Taylor | 21.5 |
| 597 | Fort Wayne | 21.5 |
| 598 | Winston-Salem | 21.5 |
| 599 | New Britain | 21.5 |
| 600 | Palo Alto | 21.4 |
| 601 | Brownsville | 21.4 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 381 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 378 | St. George | 14.2% |
| 379 | Menifee | 14.2% |
| 380 | Albany | 14.2% |
| 381 | Winston-Salem | 14.1% |
| 382 | Coconut Creek | 14.1% |
| 383 | Deltona | 14.1% |
| 384 | Melbourne | 14.1% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 423 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 420 | Melbourne | 1.1% |
| 421 | Toledo | 1.1% |
| 422 | Garden Grove | 1.1% |
| 423 | Winston-Salem | 1.1% |
| 424 | Plantation | 1.1% |
| 425 | Orange | 1.1% |
| 426 | Daytona Beach | 1.1% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 222 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 219 | La Habra | 11.6% |
| 220 | Noblesville | 11.6% |
| 221 | Rowlett | 11.5% |
| 222 | Winston-Salem | 11.5% |
| 223 | Fall River | 11.5% |
| 224 | Joplin | 11.5% |
| 225 | Sparks | 11.5% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 80 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | St. Cloud | 29.4% |
| 78 | Pearland | 29.2% |
| 79 | Jackson | 29.2% |
| 80 | Winston-Salem | 29.1% |
| 81 | New Orleans | 29.1% |
| 82 | Burlington | 29.1% |
| 83 | La Crosse | 29.1% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 697 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 694 | Des Moines | $1,090 |
| 695 | Norman | $1,090 |
| 696 | Montgomery | $1,089 |
| 697 | Winston-Salem | $1,087 |
| 698 | Duluth | $1,087 |
| 699 | Parma | $1,087 |
| 700 | Lincoln | $1,086 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 661 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 658 | Albany | $234,700 |
| 659 | Kingsport | $234,100 |
| 660 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | $233,900 |
| 661 | Winston-Salem | $233,800 |
| 662 | Greenville | $233,500 |
| 663 | Las Cruces | $231,700 |
| 664 | Appleton | $231,400 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 522 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 519 | Holly Springs | 4.0x |
| 520 | New Braunfels | 3.9x |
| 521 | Overland Park | 3.9x |
| 522 | Winston-Salem | 3.9x |
| 523 | Wilmington | 3.9x |
| 524 | Johns Creek | 3.9x |
| 525 | Huntsville | 3.9x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 481 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 478 | Lauderhill | 55.8% |
| 479 | Chicopee | 55.7% |
| 480 | Norwalk | 55.6% |
| 481 | Winston-Salem | 55.6% |
| 482 | Charleston | 55.6% |
| 483 | Clarksville | 55.6% |
| 484 | Round Rock | 55.5% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 697 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 694 | Taylor | 88.5% |
| 695 | Buffalo | 88.5% |
| 696 | Columbia | 88.5% |
| 697 | Winston-Salem | 88.4% |
| 698 | Pocatello | 88.4% |
| 699 | Hamilton | 88.4% |
| 700 | Springfield | 88.4% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Winston-Salem ranks 135 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | Albany | 8.0% |
| 133 | Tamarac | 8.0% |
| 134 | Cleveland | 8.0% |
| 135 | Winston-Salem | 8.0% |
| 136 | Norfolk | 7.9% |
| 137 | Philadelphia | 7.9% |
| 138 | Mission | 7.9% |
More on Winston-Salem: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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