Winston-Salem had 257,271 residents on July 1, 2025, the Census Bureau estimates, up 3.1% since 2020 and 12% since 2010. Age, income and housing figures.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is linked to its source. Census Bureau customer line: 1-800-923-8282. Updated when the bureau publishes new figures.
Winston-Salem had an estimated 257,271 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates. That is 7,726 more people (3.1%) than the 2020 census count of 249,545 and 27,654 more (12.0%) than the 2010 census count of 229,617. Winston-Salem is North Carolina’s fifth-largest city by these estimates, after Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Durham; see the Census Bureau’s QuickFacts for Winston-Salem.
What this means for you
- Growth is steady, not fast: about 900 to 2,300 people a year since 2021.
- The smaller towns around the city are growing faster in percentage terms.
- Winston-Salem is younger than the county and the state, with a median age of 35.9.
Population over time
The estimates have risen every year since 2020. Between July 2024 and July 2025 the city added an estimated 1,625 people.
Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and the neighbors
From the same Vintage 2025 estimates, with change from the bureau’s April 2020 estimates base:
| Place | July 1, 2025 | Change since 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Forsyth County | 401,718 | +5.0% |
| Winston-Salem | 257,271 | +3.1% |
| Kernersville | 29,128 | +9.9% |
| Clemmons | 22,808 | +7.7% |
| Lewisville | 14,421 | +7.8% |
| King | 7,977 | +10.8% |
| Walkertown | 6,120 | +7.7% |
Winston-Salem is home to about 64% of Forsyth County’s residents. Kernersville reaches slightly into Guilford County, and most of King is in Stokes County; the figures above are for each whole town.
Age, households, income and housing
These figures come from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates, which average five years of survey responses.
| Measure | Winston-Salem | Forsyth County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 years | 38.4 years | 39.1 years |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 22.7% | 21.8% |
| 65 and older | 15.4% | 17.0% | 17.2% |
| Households | 103,058 | 159,925 | 4,282,345 |
| Average household size | 2.35 | 2.37 | 2.44 |
| Median household income | $59,268 | $67,165 | $72,388 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.7% | 14.5% | 13.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher (25+) | 39.5% | 38.5% | 35.7% |
| Housing units | 115,270 | 175,631 | 4,895,668 |
| Homes owner-occupied | 55.6% | 63.6% | 66.6% |
| Median home value (owner estimate) | $233,800 | $250,400 | $288,900 |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 | $1,098 | $1,228 |
Winston-Salem’s median household income is about $8,000 below the county’s and $13,000 below the state’s, and its poverty rate is higher than both. A larger share of its adults hold a bachelor’s degree than in the state as a whole. Nearly half of the city’s homes are rented.
How to read these numbers
- Estimates, not counts. Only the 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The yearly numbers are Census Bureau estimates built from births, deaths and migration, and the bureau revises them each year.
- Survey margins. American Community Survey figures come from a sample and carry margins of error, shown on each data.census.gov table.
- City limits. These figures are for the city of Winston-Salem as its limits stood at each date, not the whole Winston-Salem metro area.
More: Winston-Salem home prices, schools and moving to Winston-Salem.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates Winston-Salem had 257,271 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 249,545.
How fast is Winston-Salem growing?
Winston-Salem grew 8.7% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, from 229,617 to 249,545, and an estimated 3.1% more from 2020 to 2025.
What is the median household income in Winston-Salem?
The median household income in Winston-Salem was $59,268 in the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with $67,165 for Forsyth County and $72,388 for North Carolina.
Is Winston-Salem the fifth-largest city in North Carolina?
Yes. By the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates, Winston-Salem is fifth, after Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Durham.
What is the population of Forsyth County?
The Census Bureau estimates Forsyth County had 401,718 residents on July 1, 2025, up 5.0% from its 2020 base of 382,612. Winston-Salem holds about 64% of them.
Have your say