Living a College Town Lifestyle in Winston-Salem, North_Carolina

Home to Wake Forest University and Salem College, Winston-Salem is an intriguingly-named college community. Two of the world’s top-selling cigarettes are eponymous with this popular retirement community. RJ Reynolds started his tobacco business here in 1874. Salem was founded first - it was settled to be a Moravian (German) religious settlement in 1753. Old Salem has a historic center with many restored buildings. Nearby Winston was founded in 1849. The cities were joined later to become one community in Forsyth County. Located near the center of North Carolina’s northern border, the population is now 218,000. The metro area has over 450,000 people.

Winston-Salem is often referred to as the Twin City. The Hanes Mall is the largest shopping mall in North Carolina. The cultural scene is rich with many theaters and museums. According to the Visitor's Center there is live music, vintage films, avant-garde dance, classic plays, museum visits, and wine tours. The wineries are in the nearby Yadkin Valley. Golf Digest named the Triad the best big city for golf in America in a survey of 330 cities. There is a plethora of public golf courses – two of the most distinguished are Tanglewood Park and Salem Glen – both are home to big tournaments. There are also many parks in the city.

Picture of home in Old Salem courtesy of Wikipedia and Akhenaton06.

Where to Retire in Winston-Salem and Home Prices

The area has a range of communities for active adults 55+ (see link at left). Retirees will find every kind of housing choice – from dedicated retirement communities to all types of housing in the city’s neighborhoods. From apartments to condos to houses, the area offers a wide variety of choices and affordable prices.  The National Association of Realtors reported the median sale price of a single-family home to be $289,800 during the 2nd quarter of 2022.

What Is Special about Winston-Salem

Old Salem (colonial site), Historic Bethabara Park, Wachovia Center (Skyscraper), The Home Moravian Church - the largest Moravian parish in the country, Moravian graveyard, "God's Acre" ,  Bell and Sons cafeteria,  Reynolda Gardens,  Reynolda House Museum of American Art

What Is Not Special about Winston-Salem

Development is proceeding very quickly with attendant traffic. Some young professionals say there is not enough to do in the Twin Cities. There is crime in W-S

Climate and Physical Environment

Winston-Salem is near North Carolina’s northern border towards its western edge. The city is large, about 110 square miles. The  area  has  a  temperate climate compared to the northeast - average high in July is 89 and January average low is 29. Rainiest month is March.View Google Map for Winston-Salem For information on retire in NC

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

The Old Salem district and Historic Bethabara site provide historical attractions. Other sites include Reynolda Village (Reynolda Gardens and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art), the Horne Creek Historic Farm, and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Universities located in Winston-Salem include: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Salem College. Winston-Salem is often called the "City of the Arts," it had the first arts council in the United States. The North Carolina School of the Arts and the Piedmont Opera Theatre.

Crime

The crime rate is about twice the national average.

Medical Facilities

Forsyth Memorial Hospital, Medical Park Hospital, North Carolina Baptist Hospital

Transportation

Greensboro's Piedmont Triad International Airport is 23 miles away

Valuable Links

Visit Winston-Salem

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