Real Estate Investing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (27101)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Forsyth County • Population: 21,881 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 27101 (Winston-Salem, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 16.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Winston-Salem, NC (27101)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $227,912
Avg Monthly Rent $1,596
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,798
% Renters 66.3%

Market Analysis: 27101 Winston-Salem

Investors eyeing 27101 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $228K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 27101 stands at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader NC picture, 27101 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

A healthy renter share of 66% in 27101 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 27101 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Winston-Salem:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,596/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Winston-Salem, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
47 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Winston-Salem, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27101

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$74,182/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $211,970 $1,080 3.7% +4.7% $211,970
2BR $172,428 $1,230 5.1% +8.8% $86,214
3BR $222,545 $1,600 5.2% +7.7% $74,182
4BR $305,989 $1,900 4.5% +7.8% $76,497
5BR $420,034 +7.9% $84,007

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$245K$212K$178K$145K$112K$78KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,654$1,485$1,316$1,147$978$809Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27101 Compare?

Metric 27101 Winston-Salem Winston-Salem, NC North Carolina
Home Value $227,912 $67,908 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 5.2% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,596 $1,520 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.5% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27101? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

66% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27101 (Winston-Salem, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 27101 (Winston-Salem, NC)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $227,912
Monthly Rent $1,596
Price-to-Rent 11.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.4%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
16.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27101

Population: 21,881

💰 Median Household Income
$44,798
This area
$44,798
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
66.3%
This area
66.3%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.4%
This area
34.4%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.7 years
This area
33.7 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.7%
This area
16.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 47.7%
White 41.4%
Other/Mixed 9.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 27101

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
12.1:1 Avg Class Size
$13,955 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Diggs-Latham Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
A Very Good

Winston-Salem Preparatory Acad

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
358 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
A Very Good

Virtual Academy

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
281 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
A Very Good

J F Kennedy High

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
A Very Good

Petree Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
475 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
A Very Good

The Downtown School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
431 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Carter High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
126 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
B+ Above Average

The Arts Based School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
611 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,556 Per Student
B Good

Atkins Academic & Tech High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,190 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,195 Per Student
C+ Average

Career Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$14,195 Per Student
C+ Average

Hospital/Homebound Education Center

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$14,195 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 2,591 Off-Campus Students
C+
Winston-Salem State University
4,776 students · 2.1 mi
C
Salem College
519 students · 3.0 mi
B+
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
1,074 students · 3.2 mi
C
Carolina University
893 students · 3.3 mi
D
Carolina Christian College
74 students · 4.0 mi
B+
Wake Forest University
9,121 students · 4.6 mi
C
Winston Salem Barber School
36 students · 4.6 mi
C+
Forsyth Technical Community College
8,716 students · 5.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,591 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Winston-Salem, NC?

The typical rental in Winston-Salem, NC commands about $1,596/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $228K purchase basis.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Winston-Salem, NC?

Median home price in Winston-Salem, NC is near $228K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How strong is Winston-Salem, NC for real estate investors?

Yes - Winston-Salem, NC a 3.0/5 investability score. With $228K home prices against $1,596/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Winston-Salem, NC?

Occupancy in Winston-Salem, NC runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,596/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What is the best play in Winston-Salem, NC?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Winston-Salem, NC. With home values at $228K and rents near $1,596/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

You know 27101 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27101 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 27101 ranks in Winston-Salem, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 27101 (Winston-Salem)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 27101 (Winston-Salem, NC).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.