The Winston metro is home to 683,637 people (up 3.3% over five years), with a median household income of $64,282. Typical rent of $1,529/month works out to 28.5% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Winston's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.3% |
| Manufacturing | 14.8% |
| Retail trade | 11.1% |
| Professional & management | 9.7% |
| Construction | 7.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 28.5% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Winston market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,529/month suggests a household income around $61,000/year. The metro's median household income is $64,282.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.3%), Manufacturing (14.8%), Retail trade (11.1%) (Census ACS 5-year).