Winston-Salem Ranks 62nd in the U.S. for Rent Affordability in 2026

Winston-Salem, N.C., has the 62nd-most affordable rent in the U.S., according to a new WalletHub study. The study examined the median annual gross rent across more than 180 of the most populated U.S. cities and compared it with the median household income in each location.

Over the past decade, rental costs have increased by more than 50%, according to the Federal Reserve's Consumer Price Index, reflecting a similar surge in home prices during the same period. However, wages have not grown at the same pace, making housing increasingly difficult for many people to afford. 

“In the most affordable cities for renters, the median cost of rent is as low as 15% of the median income, compared to nearly 34% in the most expensive cities,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “This gives people in the least expensive cities a clear financial advantage. The money they save on rent could go toward their emergency fund or savings for future home ownership.”

In-Depth Look at Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem has the 62nd-most affordable rent in the U.S., considering both the median rent and the median income in the city.

• The median annual gross rent in Winston-Salem is $13,044, which is the 150th-highest in the country.
• The median annual household income in Winston-Salem is $59,268, which is the 147th-highest in the country.

The average Winston-Salem resident spends around 22% of their income on rent. That begs the question of whether buying a house, which is more expensive upfront but gives you ownership, is more worthwhile than renting. Winston-Salem ranked 29th among the most affordable cities for home buyers last year.

Cities Where Rent Is the Most Affordable

The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.