Property Taxes in Winston-Salem
Property taxes are a genuine, disclosed cost disadvantage in Winston-Salem relative to the national median: the city carries the highest median effective property tax rate within Forsyth County at a cited 1.34%, above the roughly 1.02% U.S. national median, following a 2025 countywide reappraisal that pushed most assessed values up sharply. North Carolina's homestead exclusion programs offer real, if narrowly targeted, relief for qualifying homeowners.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreThe Rate, and the 2025 Reappraisal That Preceded It
Winston-Salem's median effective property tax rate is cited at 1.34%, the highest within Forsyth County, above both the Forsyth County overall median (also cited around 1.34%) and the roughly 1.02% U.S. national median -- as detailed in the base Winston-Salem record. Forsyth County commissioners approved a 2025-26 budget raising the rate more than 4 cents above the revenue-neutral rate following a 2025 reappraisal that saw property values rise a cited 51% on average -- meaning most homeowners saw higher bills even where the nominal rate itself declined relative to pre-reappraisal levels. Rates vary by school district and special-assessment area within the city, so treat 1.34% as directionally representative rather than a rate that applies uniformly to every parcel.
What Sets the Rate: County, City, and School-District Layers
As in the rest of North Carolina, a Winston-Salem property owner's total bill combines a Forsyth County rate with a City of Winston-Salem rate (for in-city parcels) and, in some cases, additional special-district or fire-district levies -- a simpler stack than Houston's seven-or-more overlapping taxing entities, but still worth confirming precisely for a specific parcel via the Forsyth County Tax Administration rather than assuming the citywide 1.34% figure applies exactly.
North Carolina's Elderly/Disabled Homestead Exclusion
North Carolina offers a statewide property tax relief program -- the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion -- for permanent residents 65 or older, or totally and permanently disabled, whose prior-year household income does not exceed a state-set threshold ($38,800 based on 2025 income, for 2026 qualification, adjusted annually with Social Security cost-of-living changes, per NC General Statute 105-277.1). Qualifying homeowners can exclude the greater of $25,000 or 50% of their home's appraised value from property taxation -- a real, meaningful reduction for eligible seniors and disabled homeowners, though narrowly targeted by the income limit rather than universally available. See the retiring topic page for how this factors into a retirement relocation decision.
No Texas-Style Assessment Cap
Unlike Texas's 10% annual appraisal cap or Florida's Save Our Homes limit (both covered in this dataset's Houston and Tampa records), North Carolina does not cap how much a home's assessed value can rise between countywide reappraisals -- the 2025 Forsyth County reappraisal's cited 51% average value increase illustrates the exposure this creates: without an interim cap, a full multi-year run-up in market value can land on a homeowner's tax bill all at once at the next reappraisal, rather than phasing in gradually.
Key takeaways
- Winston-Salem's median effective property tax rate (1.34%) is the highest within Forsyth County and above the roughly 1.02% national median, following a 2025 reappraisal that raised most assessed values sharply.
- A property owner's total bill layers Forsyth County, City of Winston-Salem (for in-city parcels), and sometimes special-district rates -- simpler than Houston's seven-plus overlapping entities, but confirm the specific parcel's rate with Forsyth County Tax Administration.
- NC's Elderly/Disabled Homestead Exclusion lets qualifying residents 65+ or disabled (2025 household income up to $38,800) exclude the greater of $25,000 or 50% of appraised value from property tax -- real relief, but income-limited.
- North Carolina has no Texas- or Florida-style annual assessment cap -- the 2025 reappraisal's 51% average value jump shows the exposure this creates between reappraisal cycles.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Winston-Salem overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert