Winston-Salem, NC Reviews


26 Reviews



Download our custom City Report to see exclusive
data on cost of living, crime, climate, and more.
Thanks for Voting!
What BestPlaces Users Say about Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem, North Carolina is a city located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a population of over 245,000, it is the fifth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is known for its rich history in tobacco and textiles, but has since diversified its economy to include healthcare, education, and technology. It is also home to several universities and a vibrant arts scene. With its mild climate and affordable cost of living, Winston-Salem has become a popular choice for individuals and families looking to relocate.

Background information: As someone who is considering moving to Winston-Salem, it is important to hear from those who have lived in the city. Many user reviews on BestPlaces.net offer valuable insights into the experience of living in Winston-Salem. Here are a few excerpts from four different user reviews that provide a diverse perspective on the city.

1) Sarah R. shares, "I have lived in Winston-Salem my entire life and have seen it grow and change. It's a great place to raise a family with affordable housing, good schools, and plenty of activities for kids." This review highlights the family-friendly aspect of Winston-Salem and its affordability.

2) On the other hand, John D. states, "I moved to Winston-Salem for school and have been here for 3 years. The city has a lot of potential but it's not quite there yet. There are limited job opportunities, especially for young professionals." This review offers a more critical view of the job market in the city, particularly for young professionals.

3) Another user, Maria L., shares, "I absolutely love living in Winston-Salem. The downtown area is charming and there are always events going on. Plus, the surrounding areas offer beautiful hiking trails." This review highlights the city's charming downtown and the variety of outdoor activities available.

4) Lastly, Anil S. writes, "I've lived in Winston-Salem for 10 years and the people here are some of the friendliest I have ever met. However, the city lacks diversity and there isn't much to do here compared to larger cities." This review provides insight into the community in Winston-Salem and mentions the city's lack of diversity.

Overall, these reviews showcase the positive aspects of living in Winston-Salem such as its family-friendly environment, affordability, charming downtown, and friendly community. However, they also touch on potential concerns such as limited job opportunities and lack of diversity. It is important to consider a variety of perspectives when making the decision to move to a new city.

 based on 26 Reviews
Get to know Winston-Salem with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Winston-Salem

A sad and corrupt city - 2/26/2020
Winston Salem is a corrupt and sad city. Many residents aren't open to new comers and crime is rampant. The abysmal crime rate is due in part to the corrupt and complacent police force. Sadly, the city is replete with indifferent public servants who could care less about the people they're paid to serve. You'd be wise to avoid Winston Read More

Start Your Review of Winston-Salem


Beautiful and Quiet - 1/4/2020
I’ve lived here since 2008 and the community is beautiful and quiet. Convenient to everything and if you’re not a lazy person you can walk to Walmart, the bank, Food-lion, and restaurants. Low taxes. This place is almost on the outskirts of Winston-Salem. Don’t understand why people gave such low ratings. Read More

Progressive, artsy small city - 6/14/2018
I didn't fully appreciate WS until I left. I still have family and friends there, and when I visit (I've lived in various places, now in the midwest for about 20 years) I realize how much it has to offer. The weather is much milder than here in Chicagoland, and although there aren't as many things to do, for a city its size, WS has a lot more to offer than you might expect. Read More

Not My Cup of Tea - 6/13/2018
I lived in W-S for 2 years while my husband was in grad school at Wake Forest. Our first apartment was on the bad side of town where there were strip clubs and bars on every other corner and cops guarding the grocery store exits. We moved to a nicer area over near Bethabara Park, so I got to see both sides of W-S.

First off, W-S is hyper Christian. If you are not a Christian, it is hard to fit in. Second, the roads are horribly designed, Silas Creek Parkway had an on ramp at an on ramp in one spot for a private residence.

When I lived there (2005-2007), the big tobacco culture was still strong. It was not unusual for a company to let people smoke at their desks or to see people smoking in the middle of a McDonalds. That may have changed in the years since, but given the area and how much $ the industry spends there, I assume the culture is still strong.  Read More

Attractive neighborhoods/lack job opp. + entertain - 8/2/2017
Winston-Salem has one of the most attractive residential neighborhoods in NC. Many streets are a tunnel of tall trees, medians on major roadways like sailas prkwy have a landscape of crape myrtles and planted annuals which all bloosem in summer months. The downtown has recently been revitalized without loosing any of its historical character which makes Winston-Salem what it is. It is a medium sized city with a low crime rate and a small town type of vibe. It's a great place to live, grow up in, raise a family, and retire too. Sadly it's not a good place for a near 40 year old single bachelor who is going through a transition from one career into another. I work independently, as an uber/Lyft driver where I have had a horrible experience maintaining a steady cash flow due to a lack of ridership. Winston-Salem is also not an industrial city as it once was, thus most of the job market falls within the service sectors like retail, health care etc. Most work establishments pay below the Read More

The living is easy - 7/14/2015
It's a hard place to set down roots. Most people and their predecessors have been in WS for generations and know nothing else. They think the sun rises and sets over Winston. They are not interested in hearing about where YOU came from. But the quality of life is not bad. The living is easy and laid-back. The influx of new people has made the natives a little more loosened up to strangers. The cost of living is not bad. The weather has some good variety. It rains a lot in the late spring, early summer. The fall is beautiful. The winters are variable...cold as heck for a week then warm for another. It's certainly not an intellectual town. It's a good place to raise kids but again the people are a bit cliquish. Read More

Nice Southern town - 7/7/2015
Winston-Salem has a vibrant downtown, with many independent local restaurants, bars, and Read More

Great Location in Winston Salem! - 8/1/2014
1159 Folkstone Ridge Ln, Winston Salem, NC 27127
3 beds, 3 baths, 1,846 sqft
For Sale by Owner
$169,500

IMMACULATE ~ 1 1/2 story charmer with loads of extras! Built in 2007, Hardwoods, tiled floors in laundry room and bathrooms, powder room, crown molding throughout, waynes coating in formal dining room and breakfast nook, cathedral ceiling in dining, granite counter tops in the kitchen, corian counter tops in the bathrooms, breakfast bar, travertine backsplash in kitchen, Spacious laundry room on the lower level for convenience , storage shed, irrigation system, fenced backyard, keyless entry/remote control garage, fireplace, customized stone patio, pre-wired for wireless internet, cable & satellite dish TV ready, optimized open floorplan with additional storage in the eaves. 3 bedrooms, Bonus Room that can be used as an additional bedroom, 2.5 baths.Upgraded master bathroom with separate shower and garden tub, Luxurious main level Master suite. Read More

Entertainment - 5/25/2012
I moved here 15 years ago to raise my 9 year old twins
Who are now 25 and now I have a 13 year old son and am
a single parent. There really isn't any type of cultural entertainment
or anything to do within the city. I am considering relocating in
the near future before my son starts high school. Read More

where to live in winston Salem area with kids - 1/31/2012
I have an 11 and 9 year old and will be moving to this area this summer. Please advise on the best areas to rent a home. School choice is my Read More

Overview
Compare Winston-Salem, NC
cost of living
Compare food, housing, utilities, and more in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to any other city in the US.