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Bragging rights

Why Winston-Salem is one of the best places to live

WStoday: Bailey power plant early morning beauty shot

Consider this humble brag— not so humble. | Photo by WStoday

Wanna know what makes Winston-Salem a great place to live? Don’t take it from us, we have numbers to prove the Twin City is one of the best cities to live in America.

With Winston-Salem constantly growing and undertaking multiple high-profile developments this year, we figured it was time to talk about what the Twin City is known for. Livability has ranked Winston-Salem among the top 25 best places to live in the Southeast. The Twin City is recognized for its quality of higher education — including top-ranking HBCU Winston-Salem State University, Wake Forest University, Salem College and UNC School of the Arts.

Housing affordability + living cost

The median household income in Forsyth County is $56,830 according to the most recent data available from the US Census Bureau — that’s compared to $62,317 for residents in Winston-Salem. When it comes to the cost of living, the median gross rent for the city is $880 compared to $1,163 nationwide. Still not convinced? The average home price of $260,000 is 37% below the national median and the cost of living is 6% below national average, according to Redfin.

Here are some other accolades the Twin City is known for:

No. 3 most diverse suburb in North Carolina
No. 13 best large cities to start a business
No. 17 best places to retire in America

Overall, Winston-Salem ranks highest for housing, environment, and transportation.

Asked

What do you love about living in Winston-Salem?

A. I can get around town quickly
B. How affordable it is to live
C. The entrepreneurial atmosphere
D. Art is everywhere
E. Something else

Why I love my city

Events

Monday, Nov. 13

Youth Orchestras Fall Extravaganza | Monday, Nov. 13 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Reynolds Auditorium, 301 Hawthorne Rd. NW, Winston-Salem | Free | All four ensembles of the Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras program start their seasons with autumn performances.
Paws in the Park 2023 | Monday, Nov. 13 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Tanglewood Park, 4061 Clemmons Rd., Clemmons | $20-$50 | Stroll through the festive light display with your pups, family, and friends — proceeds support low-cost pet services.

Tuesday, Nov. 14

Comedians with Disabilities Act | Tuesday, Nov. 14 | 5 p.m. | Auditorium, Robert L. Strickland Center, Forsyth Technical Community College, 2100 Silas Creek Pkwy., Winston-Salem | Free | Experience a night of laughter with performances by comedians Nina G. and Mean Dave.

Wednesday, Nov. 15

Wake Forest Women’s Basketball vs. North Carolina A&T | Wednesday, Nov. 15 | 6 p.m. | Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 2825 University Pkwy., Winston-Salem | $5-$10 | Watch the Demon Deacons face the Aggies after their opening night victory over Wofford.

100+ more local events

Click here to have your event featured.

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News Notes

Announced

Tickets are on sale for “Solstice: a Winter Circus Experience.” The entertainment group is coming back to Winston-Salem for five performances from Feb. 15 through Feb.18, 2024 before touring across NC. Early bird discounts end Friday, Dec. 1.

Talk

Award-winning actor and bestselling author Henry Winkler will discuss his memoir, “Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond” on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Calvary Moravian Church (600 Holly Ave. NW). Attendees can get their books signed after the conversation. Tickets cost $35.

Health

Adults ages 50 to 80 years old can get a free lung cancer screening on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Wake Forest Baptist’s Downtown Health Plaza in Winston-Salem. Patients will also receive resources and opportunities to connect with community organizations.

Arts

Get ready for Brazilian Samba dancing and Latin music on Trade Street during Art Crush this Friday, Nov. 17. The evening will include a parade with live drums and music featuring performance curator Courtney Feliz.

Civic

Clifford Apartments now belongs to the city of Winston-Salem. The property located at the corner of Spring Street and Seventh Street was sold for $760,000. The purchase was made in an effort to support the affordable housing initiative, but the city plans to sell the property to another entity. (Triad City Beat)

Learn

Need help filing your taxes? CLA professionals are hosting a lunch and info session to discuss tax tips and investment strategies on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The free event in the Crane Room at Sparq Winston-Salem runs from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Finance

This card is offering a rare $300 welcome bonus (and bonuses like that don’t come around that often). That’s why thousands are lining up for it. Learn more and apply.*

Correction

Thanks to one of our readers, we’ve learned Lawrence Joel is one of two Winston-Salem natives to receive the Medal of Honor. Sgt. Henry Johnson was posthumously awarded the nation’s highest combat award in 2015 — 97 years after his heroic acts during World War I.

Transit

Your vote counts

NCDOT in the “Top 12" finalist in the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards competition

WStoday: highway picture on a gloomy day

Ever wonder what it takes to keep those roads safe for drivers to use? | Photo by WStoday

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is in the running for a $10,000 grant. The portal for the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards is now open for voting.

NCDOT staff and emergency management personnel presented a new plan to improve the transportation system in the state — that means keeping roads in good condition for drivers’ and passengers’ safety. The flood warning system helps monitor thousands of bridges and culverts across the state, including major roads like I-40. The grant would improve the system by:

Allowing crews to know when flood waters will or are impacting critical points on the roads
Positioning and dispatching resources more effectively so that NCDOT staff can respond to flood-induced disruptions and resolve the issue more quickly
Monitoring and reporting in real-time which road, bridges, and culverts are more vulnerable

The voting period will close at tomorrow, Nov. 14 at 11:59 p.m.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kellina

From the editor

I’m so glad I got to attend the final concert at the Stevens Center Friday night before the theater undergoes renovations. I’m looking forward to see what the new building will look like. In the meantime, I can’t wait for all the holiday performances, including the Nutcracker by the UNC School of Arts.

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