Insights / Winston-Salem

Firm
Heating
Condition and direction
Winston-Salem, NC · recomputed daily
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Winston-Salem, NC Multifamily Market Read | September 2026

Winston-Salem reads Firm and Heating, so landlords have the edge. Asking rents are firming, up 3.3% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Aug 2026). This brief lays out what the current data shows for Winston-Salem, grouped by how often each source updates.

Updated September 20, 2026

Asking rent YoY · monthly
+3.3%
Vacancy · 2024
3.4%
Jobs YoY · monthly
+1.3%

What is moving now (monthly)

Asking rents are firming, up 3.3% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Aug 2026). Jobs are growing modestly, up 1.3% over the past year (BLS, monthly, latest Aug 2026).

The backdrop (yearly, US Census Bureau)

Vacancy was 3.4%, on the low side, a tight rental market, in the 2024 count (US Census Bureau). This is a yearly snapshot, not a monthly signal. New permitting was subdued, -74.7% in the 2025 count (US Census Bureau, building permits). A standing yearly figure, not a live signal. Net migration was positive at +7.7 per 1,000 residents in the 2025 count (US Census Bureau).

Rent context

The metro median rent, including utilities, was about $1,102 a month in the 2024 count (US Census Bureau).

What the data shows

Taken together, Winston-Salem is Firm and heating: landlords have the edge. The monthly movers, asking rent and jobs, are the live part of the picture, while vacancy, permitting, and migration are yearly snapshots that set the backdrop. MetroSgnl reads the market from public data and shows every figure with its source and cadence. This is market information, not investment advice, and not a recommendation about any property.

Common questions about Winston-Salem · answered from the data, updated September 20, 2026

Is the Winston-Salem rental market tight or soft right now?

Winston-Salem reads Firm right now, so landlords have the edge.

Which way is the Winston-Salem market heading?

Winston-Salem is heating right now, as asking rents firm over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly).

Is Winston-Salem a landlord's or a renter's market?

Winston-Salem is a landlord's market right now, because it reads Firm.

What is the vacancy rate in Winston-Salem?

Vacancy in Winston-Salem is 3.4% in the Jan 2024 count, a yearly snapshot rather than a live monthly signal (US Census Bureau).

How much have Winston-Salem rents changed?

Asking rents in Winston-Salem are up 3.3% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Aug 2026).

Recent coverage

Daily, from the MetroSgnl news feed. Headlines only.

Winston-Salem ranks among nation’s more affordable housing marketsWinston-Salem Journal
New life for the Loewy: Work begins on 54 downtown Winston-Salem apartmentsWinston-Salem Journal
Winston-Salem plans for growth with housing push as more people move to the Triadwfmynews2.com
Winston-Salem approves plans for two developments amid regional housing pushThe Business Journals
See all Winston-Salem news →

Data: Zillow ZORI, BLS, US Census Bureau, FRED, and the MetroSgnl news feed. Recomputed daily. Market information only, not investment advice.

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