Winston-Salem Home Prices: $266K, Up 0.7% — 7 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)
$266K. That’s what a typical home costs in Winston-Salem right now — less than half of what you’d pay in Raleigh’s pricier neighborhoods and well below the statewide hot spots. Prices inched up 0.7% over the past year. Not a surge. Not a crash. A flat market with a slight upward lean.
Quick answer: The average home price in Winston-Salem, NC is $265,918 as of February 2026, up 0.7% year over year according to Zillow.
Current Home Prices in Winston-Salem
Here’s where things stand as of February 2026:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $265,918 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +0.7% |
| Lowest ZIP Median | $169,820 |
| Highest ZIP Median | $367,063 |
| Number of ZIPs Tracked | 7 |
A 0.7% annual increase barely keeps pace with inflation. If you bought a home here a year ago, you’ve gained roughly $1,850 in equity on paper. That’s not nothing, but it won’t change your financial picture.
The spread between the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes is $197,243. That gap tells you Winston-Salem isn’t one market — it’s several. Where you buy matters more than when you buy in a market this flat.
For context, the median sits right around $266K. That puts a standard 20% down payment at about $53,200, with a monthly mortgage payment near $1,350 at current rates before taxes and insurance.
Winston-Salem Home Prices by Neighborhood
All seven tracked ZIP codes, ranked from most to least expensive:
| ZIP Code | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 27104 | $367,063 | $1,315 |
| 27106 | $328,051 | $1,196 |
| 27103 | $276,375 | $1,589 |
| 27127 | $256,657 | $1,643 |
| 27107 | $240,335 | $1,479 |
| 27101 | $223,124 | $1,471 |
| 27105 | $169,820 | $1,198 |
Most Expensive ZIPs
27104 leads at $367,063 — 38% above the city median — yet carries a relatively modest rent of $1,315, suggesting an owner-occupied area where fewer landlords compete for tenants. 27106 follows at $328,051 with the lowest rent in the city at $1,196. 27103 rounds out the top three at $276,375, just above the city average, but commands the second-highest rent at $1,589.
Most Affordable ZIPs
27105 is the entry point at $169,820, the only ZIP below $200K. Rent there is $1,198 — making it one of the few areas where buying is clearly cheaper than renting on a monthly basis. 27101 sits at $223,124 with rent of $1,471. 27107 comes in at $240,335, still roughly $25,000 below the city median.
Rent vs Buy in Winston-Salem
The rent-versus-buy math in Winston-Salem depends heavily on which ZIP code you’re looking at.
Across all seven tracked ZIPs, the median rent averages about $1,413 per month. A mortgage on the city-wide median of $265,918 — assuming 20% down, 6.5% rate, 30-year fixed — runs roughly $1,350 per month in principal and interest alone. Add property taxes and insurance, and you’re likely paying $1,700 to $1,900 total.
That makes renting cheaper on a pure monthly-payment basis in most of the city.
But the picture flips in the affordable ZIPs. In 27105, a mortgage on a $170K home works out to about $860 per month in principal and interest. Rent there is $1,198. You’d save over $300 a month by buying — before even counting equity.
| ZIP | Estimated Mortgage (P&I) | Median Rent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27105 | ~$859 | $1,198 | Buying saves ~$339/mo |
| 27101 | ~$1,128 | $1,471 | Buying saves ~$343/mo |
| 27107 | ~$1,215 | $1,479 | Buying saves ~$264/mo |
| 27104 | ~$1,855 | $1,315 | Renting saves ~$540/mo |
| 27106 | ~$1,658 | $1,196 | Renting saves ~$462/mo |
The pattern is clear: in cheaper neighborhoods, buying wins. In the pricier ones, renting is the better short-term deal.
Population Growth and Migration
Winston-Salem’s population hit 255,769 in 2024, up 2.6% from 249,231 in 2020. The city is growing, but not fast.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 249,231 |
| 2021 | 250,397 |
| 2022 | 251,411 |
| 2023 | 253,332 |
| 2024 | 255,769 |
That 2.6% four-year growth rate looks modest next to other North Carolina cities:
| City | 2024 Population | 4-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 125,284 | 8.1% |
| Charlotte | 943,476 | 7.8% |
| Raleigh | 499,825 | 7.3% |
| Durham | 301,870 | 7.2% |
| Concord | 112,395 | 7.1% |
| Winston-Salem | 255,769 | 2.6% |
Charlotte and Raleigh are growing three times faster. That slower growth explains why Winston-Salem’s housing prices aren’t surging — demand pressure is lower. For buyers, that’s a good thing. Less competition, more time to shop, fewer bidding wars.
The growth that does exist — about 1,600 new residents per year — is enough to keep the market from declining but not enough to push prices sharply upward.
Winston-Salem Housing Market Trends
Month-by-month data for the past 12 months shows a market that dipped mid-year and recovered by winter:
| Month | Average Value | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | $264,112 | $171,985 | $361,410 |
| Apr 2025 | $263,199 | $169,811 | $361,260 |
| May 2025 | $262,539 | $167,648 | $360,972 |
| Jun 2025 | $262,162 | $165,935 | $360,965 |
| Jul 2025 | $262,311 | $165,838 | $361,219 |
| Aug 2025 | $262,682 | $166,345 | $362,012 |
| Sep 2025 | $263,194 | $166,875 | $363,128 |
| Oct 2025 | $263,838 | $167,252 | $364,481 |
| Nov 2025 | $264,496 | $167,737 | $365,652 |
| Dec 2025 | $265,190 | $168,507 | $366,711 |
| Jan 2026 | $265,589 | $169,145 | $367,065 |
| Feb 2026 | $265,918 | $169,820 | $367,063 |
Prices bottomed in June-July 2025 around $262,200, then climbed steadily for eight consecutive months. The total swing from trough to peak was about $3,756 — roughly 1.4%. Not dramatic, but the direction is consistently upward since summer.
The high end of the market (27104) gained about $6,100 over the 12-month period. The low end (27105) actually dipped from $171,985 in March to $165,838 in July before recovering to $169,820 by February.
Is Winston-Salem a Good Place to Buy in 2026?
The numbers point to a balanced market leaning slightly toward buyers.
A 0.7% annual price increase means sellers gain almost nothing from appreciation. Homes aren’t flying off the shelves the way they are in Charlotte or Raleigh. If you’re relocating to North Carolina and want to own, Winston-Salem gives you more square footage per dollar than most cities in the state.
The entry point is low. You can buy in 27105 for under $170K. Three of the seven tracked ZIPs are below $250K. For a mid-size city with a population over 255,000, that’s accessible.
The risk? Slow appreciation means your home won’t build equity fast. If you plan to sell within two to three years, transaction costs could erase any gains. This is a market that rewards patience.
Winston-Salem Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027
The eight-month upward trend from July 2025 through February 2026 suggests prices will continue climbing modestly into spring and summer 2026. If the current pace of roughly $450 to $500 per month holds, the median could reach $269,000 to $271,000 by late 2026.
The market lacks the population growth or migration pressure to support a breakout. Charlotte is absorbing most of the newcomers to the state. Winston-Salem’s 2.6% growth rate doesn’t generate the kind of demand that drives bidding wars.
Expect more of the same: small, steady gains in the 1-2% annual range. No crash, no boom. A stable market that moves slowly.
Similar Markets in NC
If you’re shopping in Winston-Salem, these other North Carolina markets are worth comparing:
- Greensboro — Just 30 minutes east, a similar-sized market that often tracks closely with Winston-Salem pricing.
- High Point — Part of the Piedmont Triad, typically priced below Winston-Salem.
- Charlotte — Higher prices and faster growth, but more job opportunities for those willing to pay the premium.
- Durham — Research Triangle pricing with stronger appreciation, a step up in budget.
- Fayetteville — One of the most affordable mid-size cities in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Winston-Salem?
The average home price in Winston-Salem is $265,918 as of February 2026. Prices range from $169,820 in ZIP code 27105 to $367,063 in 27104. The city-wide median is well below the North Carolina hot spots of Charlotte and Raleigh.
Are home prices going up or down in Winston-Salem?
Prices are up 0.7% year over year. After a small dip in mid-2025, the market has posted eight consecutive months of gains. The increase is modest — roughly $1,850 over 12 months — but the trend is clearly upward.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Winston-Salem?
It depends on the neighborhood. In the three most affordable ZIPs (27105, 27101, 27107), monthly mortgage payments are $250 to $340 less than rent. In the pricier areas like 27104 and 27106, renting saves $400 to $540 per month compared to a mortgage.
What is the most affordable neighborhood in Winston-Salem?
ZIP code 27105 has the lowest median home value at $169,820 — about $96,000 below the city average. Rent there is $1,198 per month, making it one of the few areas where buying is significantly cheaper than renting.
Methodology
Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.