Lifestyle

America's 50 Best Cities

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By Venessa Wong and Joel Stonington on September 23, 2011

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Winston-Salem

America’s Best Places Rank: 46th
Population: 223,672
Mayor: Allen Joines

Why it’s ranked: In the heart of North Carolina, Winston-Salem has a high amount of parkland compared with other cities, boasts good schools, and is home to a number of institutions of higher education, including Wake Forest University. The city would have been ranked higher had it not been for a relatively low median household income and a high rate of property crime.

How it ranked:
Percent with bachelor's degrees: 31.3
Percent under poverty level: 19.1
Median household income: $41,979
Violent crime rate: 752.9
Property crime rate: 5,969.4
School score: 70.67
Pro sports teams: 0
Foreclosure rate: .0073
Percent Unemployment: 9
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 15
Bars: 50
Restaurants: 432
Museums: 46
Colleges: 12
Libraries: 11
Air Quality Index: 93