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Forsyth County, NC
9 cities and towns and 16 ZIP codes in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Population
389,977
Land area
408sq mi
People per sq mi
956
ZIP codes
16
Cities and towns in Forsyth County
Forsyth County at a glance
- Forsyth County is about 4.3 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 4th most populous of 100 counties in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $67,165 a year, 7% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $250,400 (13% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,098 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Winston-Salem (252,037), Kernersville (27,830) and Clemmons (21,871).
Local data for Forsyth County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals4
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes15
- Schools106
- Colleges9
- Libraries10
- Banks85
- Post Offices20
- Parks116
- Grocery Stores160
- Restaurants1,016
- Affordable Housing34
- Home Health Agencies9
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers6
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals2
- Community Health Centers17
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment20
- Private Schools19
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools3
- Toxic Release Facilities21
- Historic Places73
Housing and community stats
Forsyth County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$67,165
Poverty rate
14.5%
Median home value
$250,400
Prices +3.5% in a year
Median rent
$1,098/mo
Homeownership
63.6%
Bachelor's or higher
38.5%
Median age
38.4
Average commute
22.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (38,651), Mexican Americans (31,879), Irish Americans (30,363).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.3%
Sep 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$69,731
190,305 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$63,989
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.8B
FY 2026, $7,278 per person
PPP loans
$690M
8,723 loans, 87,406 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$4.5M
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Forsyth County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.7%
- Carpooled8.4%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked1.4%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home14.5%
Average one-way commute: 22.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Forsyth County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
639
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
541
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 31°F
43.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone73 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Forsyth County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.2%
U.S. 33.3% +7.9 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
13.4%
U.S. 12.8% +0.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.9%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Forsyth County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Forsyth County, NC?
- Winston-Salem is the largest city or town in Forsyth County, with about 252,037 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Forsyth County?
- Forsyth County includes 16 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27009, 27012, 27023, 27040, 27045.
- What is the population of Forsyth County, NC?
- About 389,977 people live in Forsyth County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Forsyth County?
- Forsyth County borders Guilford County, Davidson County, Rockingham County, Surry County, Stokes County, Davie County, Yadkin County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023