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. Earlier this year, Livability ranked Winston-Salem among the top 100 best places to live in the nation. And our education system ranked highly, too
- UNC School of the Arts earned the No. 3 spot on the list of Top 25 Best Drama Schools in the World by The Hollywood Reporter.
- Winston-Salem State University ranked No. 22 among HBCUs nationwide, according to US News & World Report, Plus received its largest gift in history from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
- Wake Forest University ranked No. 51 in National Universities and No.12 in Best Undergraduate Teaching by US News & World Report.
- Forsyth Tech turned 65, and Mayor Allen Joines proclaimed Dec. 15 as Forsyth Tech Day.
- Salem College ranked No. 35 on the list of 2025 Liberal Arts Colleges by Washington Monthly.
Housing affordability + living cost
The median household income in Forsyth County is $65,541, according to the most recent data available from the NC Association of County Commissioners. The median home price in Winston-Salem is $257,120, according to Zillow, compared to $329,817 statewide. Plus, Winston-Salem landed in the top 10 metros with monthly apartment rents under $1,000, according to the New York Times. Still not convinced? The overall cost of living in Winston-Salem is 10% lower than the national average, according to Redfin.
Here are some other accolades the Twin City earned this year:
- No. 4 in the nation as a top location for the food manufacturing industry
- No. 5 on the list of best places to retire in North Carolina
- No. 31 best large cities to start a business
- The Twin City was selected as a winner on Good Housekeeping’s 2026 Best Places to Travel
- Movie filmed in Winston-Salem, “A Little Prayer” earned a glowing review from The New York Times
Got any more reasons to brag about the Twin City? Share it with us below.
