Winston-Salem

The City of Arts & Innovation

Not to brag, but we’re pretty awesome. Don’t just take our word for it, though. Check out this Our State article and the resources below.

Artistic depiction of Winston Salem

CREATIVE

The city’s rich arts heritage goes back centuries, to the Moravian settlers who founded Old Salem. Their culture valued music and arts, even in seemingly ordinary things. Learn more and revisit this past at Old Salem Museum & Gardens.

Winston-Salem boasts the first arts council in the nation. Today the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth Council and remains committed to “touching every corner of our community with the beneficial impacts of the arts.” Learn more about our thriving Arts Council.

Anchored by a street named “Art for Arts Sake,” Winston-Salem’s flourishing downtown arts district consists of artists’ studios, galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. Learn more about Where Art Lives.

Winston-Salem is home to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts(UNCSA), with a drama department ranked #4 globally, a film school that is among the Top 10 in the nation, and a School of Dance that partners with the American Ballet Theater.

Regular arts exhibitions, performances, and concerts happen year-round throughout the city, including at Reynolda House Museum & Gardens, SECCA, our treasured Winston-Salem Symphony, and more. For a current events calendar, check out the local’s go-to resource, Smitty’s Notes, where you can sign up for regular emails.

Building reflection in the glass windows

INNOVATIVE

Winston-Salem is home to several large corporations, but it’s also ranked in the Top 15 cities nationwide to start a business. The city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is comprised of various accelerator programs and collaborative support systems facilitated by local organizations and nonprofits.​

The Innovation Quarter is home to 90 companies with 3,600+ workers, 5 academic institutions with 1,800 degree-seeking students, and 1,000+ apartments and lofts. And that’s just one part of downtown!​

Wake Forest University is the black-and-gold heart of Winston-Salem’s innovative spirit, and its local medical school is a pillar in the community’s vibrant healthcare system.

Winston-Salem State University has been ranked the #1 HBCU in North Carolina and is among the Top 10 HBCUs in the nation. It boasts top-rated nursing, psychology, and arts programs.

Salem College is the oldest educational institution for girls and women in America, with a proud history of fostering independence in women.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) inspires creative innovation from lighting and wig design to animation arts.

Carolina University offers programs in computer science, information systems, and the growing field of esports.

Forsyth Tech offers a variety of programs that prepare people for jobs in biomedical equipment technology, computer engineering, forensic science, nanotechnology, and other innovative careers.

Brick house with curved driveway

AFFORDABLE

Winston-Salem is consistently ranked in Top 25 cities for housing affordability.

For first-time homebuyers, Winston-Salem is ranked #5 in the U.S.

How about #1 Most Affordable Downtown to Live in the country? Yup. That’s us.

Winston, as the locals call it, has also recently been ranked in the Top 10 most affordable cities for retirees to live.

Are you convinced yet? Let me show you some listings.

Truist ballpark in Winston Salem

ACTIVE

79 public parks and 25 miles of greenways are operated and maintained by the City of Winston-Salem, with an additional 9 operated by Forsyth County. Parks include:
  • parcourses, walking, biking, and nature trails
  • recreation centers and swimming pools
  • sporting fields and courts, golf courses, and disc golf courses
  • playgrounds and picnic shelters
  • fishing areas, lake and river access, paddle and row boats, canoes, and kayaks
  • historic landmarks and memorials
A short drive away are the popular hiking trails of Pilot Mountain, Hanging Rock, and the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. If you’re a beach bum, the sands of the Crystal Coast are just 3–4 hours away. Hungry or thirsty? We’ve got you covered, with 80+ restaurants, 35+ bars and breweries, and easy access to nearly 70 wineries in the nearby Yadkin Valley region. With a name that honors our hyphenated city, The Dash minor league baseball team is a favorite local pastime. If you’re a golf lover, you’re singing my tune. Visit my blog. Better yet, I’d love to talk with you directly about my favorite courses. Give me a call.
Tori Boysen portrait - top agent through 2020

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