Winston-Salem : North carolina

Winston-Salem, North Carolina is an intriguing name for a city. It was named to a list of the “Top 10 Value Towns for Retirees in 2007”. Two of the world’s top-selling cigarettes are eponymous with this popular retirement community. RJ Reynolds started his tobacco business here in 1874. Salem was founded first - it was settled to be a Moravian (German) religious settlement in 1753. Old Salem has a historic center with many restored buildings. Nearby Winston was founded in 1849. The cities were joined later to become one community in Forsyth County. Located near the center of North Carolina’s northern border, the population is now 218,000. The metro area has over 450,000 people.

Winston-Salem is often referred to as the Twin City.  Active adults 55+ in retirement here will find plenty to do. The Hanes Mall is the largest shopping mall in North Carolina. The cultural scene is rich with many theaters and museums. According to the Visitors Center there is live music, vintage films, avant-garde dance, classic plays, museum visits, and wine tours. The wineries are in the nearby Yadkin Valley. Golf Digest named the Triad the best big city for golf in America in a survey of 330 cities. There is a plethora of public golf courses – two of the most distinguished are Tanglewood Park and Salem Glen – both are home to big tournaments. There are also many parks in the city. Find profiles on  Topretirement towns and communities. Picture of home in Old Salem courtesy of Wikipedia and Akhenaton06.

The area has a range of communities for active adults 55+ (see link at right). Retirees will find every kind of housing choice – from dedicated retirement communities to all types of housing in the city’s neighborhoods. From apartments to condos to houses, the area offers a wide variety of choices and affordable prices.  The National Association of Realtors reported the median sale price of a single-family home to be $184,300 during the 3rd quarter of 2019. Zillow reports the median home value to be $139,000 in mid-2019 and calls it a "Very Hot" market at this time.

Old Salem (colonial site), Historic Bethabara Park, Wachovia Center (Skyscraper), The Home Moravian Church - the largest Moravian parish in the country, Moravian graveyard, "God's Acre" ,  Bell and Sons cafeteria,  Reynolda Gardens,  Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the largest employer in Winston-Salem. RJR is headquartered in the city. Dell Computer has a manufacturing plant here.