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.

The races give riders spectacular views of downtown. | Photo by Weldon Weaver courtesy of Gears and Guitars

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.