5th largest of 22
Among North Carolina’s 22 cities of 50,000+ residents, Winston-Salem ranks 5th by population (257,271, July 2025).
Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. The Census Bureau estimates 257,271 residents in July 2025, compared with 249,545 counted in the 2020 Census. With 134 square miles of land, it had 1,867 people per square mile in 2020. These figures describe the city itself, not its county or metropolitan area.
Key indicators
Population
257,271
July 2025 estimate · Census Bureau
2020 Census population
249,545
April 2020 · Decennial Census
Change since 2020
+3.1%
April 2020 base to July 2025
Households
103,058
ACS 2020–2024 · Census Bureau
Population density
1,867 /mi²
2020 Census · 134 mi² of land
Median household income
$59,268
ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Median home value
$233,800
Owner-occupied · ACS 2020–2024
Median gross rent
$1,087 /month
ACS 2020–2024
Poverty rate
17.7%
ACS 2020–2024
Bachelor’s degree or higher
39.5%
Adults 25+ · ACS 2020–2024
Foreign-born residents
11.2%
ACS 2020–2024
Hispanic or Latino residents
18.2%
ACS 2020–2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population · annual estimates
2010–2025257,271▲ 12%
Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 from 2020).
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate, 2025 | 257,271 | Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 |
| Population estimates base, April 2020 | 249,549 | Census Bureau |
| Population, 2020 Census | 249,545 | Decennial Census |
| Population, 2010 Census | 229,617 | Decennial Census |
| Population, 2000 Census | 185,776 | Decennial Census |
| Land area | 133.7 mi² | Census Gazetteer 2024 |
| Median age | 35.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Per capita income | $37,345 | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Owner-occupied housing | 55.6% | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | Civilian labor force · ACS 2020–2024 |
| Veterans | 10,986 | Civilians 18+ · ACS 2020–2024 |
Winston-Salem in context
Comparable indicators for the city, California and the United States.
| Indicator | City | California | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,268 | $72,388 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Median home value | $233,800 | $288,900 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 /month | $1,228 /month | $1,413 /month | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 13.0% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 39.5% | 35.7% | 35.7% | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Foreign-born residents | 11.2% | 9.1% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Owner-occupied housing | 55.6% | 66.6% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 |
| Median age | 35.9 years | 39.1 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 |
Did you know? Winston-Salem
Growing since 2020
The city gained 7,722 residents (+3.1%) from April 2020 to July 2025, 17th for growth among the state’s 22 large cities.
Two decades of change
The census counted 185,776 residents in 2000 and 249,545 in 2020, a +34.3% change.
Below the state income
Median household income is $59,268, −18.1% versus North Carolina ($72,388); 17th of 22 large cities.
Home values
The median owner-occupied home is worth $233,800, 17th highest of the state’s 22 large cities.