Cost question
Is Winston-Salem, NC expensive to live in?
A direct, data-backed answer using cost-of-living exposure, housing cost signals, rent pressure, and income context where the public dataset supports it.
Cost-of-living risk
69
/ 100
V2 relative score
Higher scores indicate higher cost pressure relative to the selected geography scope.
Direct answer
It appears more expensive than many comparable places.
Winston-Salem, NC has a cost-of-living risk score of 69, which is above the middle of comparable city-level locations. The data points to meaningful cost pressure, especially when housing costs consume a larger share of local income. This answer uses city-level data for Winston-Salem where the public dataset supports it.
Top drivers in this score
Rent as % of household income
30.4%
Risk pressure percentile: 73
Median gross rent
$1,087
Risk pressure percentile: 72
Rent growth (YoY)
+5.2%
Risk pressure percentile: 67
How this compares
Approximate percentile: 69 of 100
Coverage and confidence
Most core metrics are available at city level.
Cost signals
- Median gross rent$1,087
- Median home value$233,800
- Median monthly housing costs$1,085
- Rent as % of household income30.4%
- Rent growth (YoY)+5.2%
- Median household income$59,268
Scope: City-level (place) | Source: ACS 2023-2024 5-year | 2024
Why this matters
Cost of living affects financial risk because fixed costs can absorb income before households address debt, savings, transportation, healthcare, or emergency expenses. A higher score means local cost signals create more financial pressure relative to comparable places.
View full cost risk detail →Common follow-up questions
Is Winston-Salem, NC expensive to live in?
Winston-Salem, NC has a cost-of-living risk score of 69, which is above the middle of comparable city-level locations. The data points to meaningful cost pressure, especially when housing costs consume a larger share of local income. This answer uses city-level data for Winston-Salem where the public dataset supports it.
What cost data is used for Winston-Salem?
FinancialRiskIQ uses public indicators such as median gross rent, monthly housing costs, home value, rent-to-income ratio, and rent growth when available. The current answer uses city-level (place) data from ACS 2023-2024 5-year (2024).
Why can a city answer use county or state data?
Some public financial datasets are not complete at city level. When city-level metrics are missing, FinancialRiskIQ falls back to county or state baselines and labels that scope so users know exactly what geography is being used.