Winston Salem, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27101
Forsyth County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,901
- 572/sq mi High-density area
- $44,198
- Median income Below-median income area
- $221,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 36.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Winston Salem pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 9th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 50%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 572
- people per sq mi
- 33%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27101 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 27101 (Winston Salem, NC) rose +10.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 216.8 in 2023 to 239.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27101 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, home to 18,901 residents across 33.1 square miles, a density of 572 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27101 reports a modest median household income of $44,198 (36% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,089. The poverty rate is 24.9%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $221,000 (15% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,010; 32.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 36.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.2, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Forsyth County, so 27101 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 27101
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Winston Salem, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27101.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
230 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
135 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
106 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
105 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
93 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 27101, Winston Salem, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
18,901
Population
33.1
Area (sq mi)
572
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27101?
34.2
Median Age
48.0%
Male
52.0%
Female
7.2%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$44,198
Median Household Income
-36% vs state ZIP avg
$34,089
Per Capita Income
24.9%
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Unemployment Rate
16.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27101 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Winston Salem, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$44,198 10th percentile higher than 10% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,759housing units
12,759
Total Housing Units
10,982
Occupied Units
1,777
Vacant Units
1.97
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$221,000
Median Home Value
-15% vs state ZIP avg
$1,010
Median Rent
1972
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+10.4%
YoY Change (2024)
239
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+139%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27101 have increased 10.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +139% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.2% | 151 |
| 2021 | +10.6% | 167 |
| 2022 | +17.8% | 196 |
| 2023 | +10.5% | 217 |
| 2024 | +10.4% | 239 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,130 business establishments in ZIP 27101, employing approximately 24,749 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,866,188,000.
1,130
Businesses
24,749
Employees
$1.9B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 230 | 20.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 135 | 11.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 106 | 9.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 105 | 9.3% |
| Retail trade | 93 | 8.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 76 | 6.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 73 | 6.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 50 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 46 | 4.1% |
| Construction | 44 | 3.9% |
| Manufacturing | 38 | 3.4% |
| Information | 38 | 3.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 37 | 3.3% |
| Educational services | 22 | 1.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 19 | 1.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17 | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 27101 vs 27110 →
ZIP 27101 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27284
Kernersville (27284)
51,136 residents
- 27107
Winston Salem (27107)
46,963 residents
- 27106
Winston Salem (27106)
45,015 residents
- 27105
Winston Salem (27105)
39,568 residents
- 27127
Winston Salem (27127)
34,138 residents
- 27103
Winston Salem (27103)
33,208 residents
- 27104
Winston Salem (27104)
28,485 residents
- 27101 18,901
Winston Salem (27101)
18,901 residents
- 27051 7,369
Walkertown (27051)
7,369 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27101 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27101 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27284
Kernersville (27284)
$82,461 median income
- 27104
Winston Salem (27104)
$81,529 median income
- 27051
Walkertown (27051)
$74,804 median income
- 27106
Winston Salem (27106)
$68,568 median income
- 27103
Winston Salem (27103)
$67,012 median income
- 27127
Winston Salem (27127)
$61,926 median income
- 27107
Winston Salem (27107)
$60,729 median income
- 27101
Winston Salem (27101)
$44,198 median income
- 27105
Winston Salem (27105)
$44,080 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27101 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27110 | Winston Salem, NC | 2,127 | 2.1 mi |
| 27105 | Winston Salem, NC | 39,568 | 4.1 mi |
| 27109 | Winston Salem, NC | 2,539 | 4.7 mi |
| 27051 | Walkertown, NC | 7,369 | 5.7 mi |
| 27107 | Winston Salem, NC | 46,963 | 6.8 mi |
| 27284 | Kernersville, NC | 51,136 | 6.8 mi |
| 27104 | Winston Salem, NC | 28,485 | 7.1 mi |
| 27106 | Winston Salem, NC | 45,015 | 7.3 mi |
| 27127 | Winston Salem, NC | 34,138 | 7.8 mi |
| 27103 | Winston Salem, NC | 33,208 | 7.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27101, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (18,901 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Forsyth County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 27101 in?
ZIP code 27101 (Winston Salem) is located in Forsyth County, North Carolina. Forsyth County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/forsyth-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27101?
ZIP code 27101 in Winston Salem, NC has a population of 18,901 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27101?
The median household income in ZIP 27101 is $44,198, which is 42% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27101?
The median home value in ZIP 27101 is $221,000, which is 21% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27101?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27101 is African American at 41.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27101?
ZIP code 27101 has 1,130 business establishments employing approximately 24,749 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27101?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27101 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (230), Accommodation and food services (135), Health care and social assistance (106). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27101?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27101 increased by 10.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 139%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 27101?
In ZIP code 27101, 61.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 36.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 27101?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27101 is 16.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27101?
In ZIP code 27101, approximately 32.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 67.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27101?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27101 is 24.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 27101's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27101 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Winston Salem, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.