Considering moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina? Here are five reasons you might want to go for it, as well as four cons you may want to consider before taking the plunge.
Pros:
Central Location
People love living in Winston Salem because it is centrally located in North Carolina, giving you reasonable access to everything our state has to offer. North Carolina boasts the Blue Ridge Mountains on the west, the coastline to the east, Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain to the north, and the city of Charlotte to the South. From Winston-Salem, you can access all of these attractions within a few hours, not to mention the beautiful wine country that’s within a 30 to 40–minute drive.
Housing Affordability
The median home price in Winston-Salem is $220,000, which is well below the national average and is especially attractive to first-time homebuyers. The homes here are beautiful; you can simply get a lot more house for your money! The job market is strong here, and affordable real estate is attractive to young professionals and established families alike. The median household income will allow you to buy a nice family home, so Winston Salem is attractive to people that are priced out of homes in a large city. But there are more pros to living in Winston Salem, like…
Four Seasons
Unlike many areas in the South, Winston-Salem enjoys four distinct seasons. Spring is especially beautiful here when everything is in bloom and the temperatures are so pleasant. Autumn has nice, crisp weather and beautiful fall foliage — the drive out to wine country is particularly beautiful that time of year. Our average temperature in the winter is around 42 or 43 degrees, although it can get into the 30s. It gets chilly, but the temperatures are still much milder than they are up north.
No Traffic
The traffic in Winston-Salem is easy to navigate. “Rush hour” (such as it is) lasts maybe 15-20 minutes, and you’re never more than a 10 or 15-minute drive from Point A to Point B in this city. Even downtown Winston is easy to navigate and get around. There are also scooters and bikes for rent in the downtown area if you like getting around that way.
Great People
One of the things people tell me they love Winston-Salem is that it has a terrific vibe. It’s a city with fine art, which gives it a great, funky ambiance, but it still has plenty of Southern charm and hospitality. There’s yoga, movies, or festivals in Bailey Park where the community comes together. And, Niche.com named us as one of the most diverse cities in the United States, which is a nice distinction. You’ll find people from every different walk of life here, and they are all friendly and welcoming to newcomers.
Of course, nothing is perfect, and you can’t have a “pros and cons” list without a few cons. Winston Salem, North Carolina is no different…
Cons:
Pollen
Pollen season starts pretty early in Winston Salem, so springtime can be a little rough if you have severe seasonal allergies. If you want to smell the food at all of the amazing restaurants or actually see the work done by local artists, head to Costco and get a big bottle of allergy medicine! The encouraging news is that people’s bodies tend to acclimate to the local allergens. High levels of pollen are common in many cities in North Carolina, so Winston Salem is not the only place like that in NC.
Small Airport
The Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro is smaller than what you might be used to if you hail from a larger city. You might find that it doesn’t offer as many choices, but it’s still manageable. The airport is an easy commute from downtown Winston Salem or Wake Forest University, making it easy for students or transplants to visit family.
Summertime Humidity
We’re a southern city, so it’s humid in the summertime. Now, it’s doesn’t get as humid as Florida or some cities in the Deep South, but you will notice it. Take advantage of Winston’s Southern hospitality and cool off with a sweet tea!
Walkability
Outside of downtown Winston and two or three other areas, Winston-Salem is not really a walkable city. Even with this, one of the things that makes Winston Salem so nice is that the city listens and is working on this. Like other cities they are moving towards more walkability. To make city life better they are working on a plan to make the city more walkable. You can see how Winston Salem and surrounding towns in Forsyth County are planning better walkability by clicking here.
