Live in Winston-Salem’s oldest outlying neighborhood
Just under two miles South of downtown Winston-Salem is the city’s oldest recorded outlying neighborhood. Happy Hill, established in 1872 and originally designated as an early 19th-century plantation, transitioned into an African American community where many residents worked at nearby Salem College. Disallowed to live within the original Salem city limits, this neighborhood continued to experience the effects of segregation, poverty and urban renewal throughout the 20th century. Today, Happy Hill seeks increased investment and preservation of its heritage while honoring its turbulent past.
A historic community with affordable homes, lots and new construction
The neighborhood’s initial plans included 38 lots with a shotgun house on each, only two of which still stand today. Half of the community’s original housing was demolished in the 1950s to pave the way for Winston-Salem’s first public housing development. The development has since been rebuilt as a mixed-income residential community and many buildings have been removed and replaced with apartment complexes. The demolition of the housing development has also left many open lots available at prices often below $20,000. A few cottages from the 1950s still stand today for less than $100,000. In the early 2000s, several contemporary bungalows and colonials were built on a few of the empty lots with prices over $200,000.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools serve students
Education begins at Diggs-Latham Elementary School, which has an overall C-plus grade on Niche. Students then progress to Hanes Magnet Middle School, which has an excellent A-minus grade. The middle school features clubs like First Lego League, where students will build LEGO robots or Broadcast Club, where students produce the daily Dragon Morning News. Grades nine through 12 attend Parkland High School. Parkland has an overall B-minus grade from Niche and is home to nearly 1,500 students.
Local rec centers and parks are the beating heart of Happy Hill
Residents can meet their neighbors at the William C. Sims Senior Recreation Center. Area residents use the recreation center’s ample amenities, like the gymnasium, kitchen and meeting rooms. There is also a YWCA a few blocks away on South Main Street, where residents can shoot hoops, exercise, connect with neighbors and get wrap-around supports. The newly renovated Happy Hill Park is across the street from the recreation center. Renovations to the park brought the neighborhood a new playground, splash pad, restroom facility and several picnic tables. The park also features access to the Salem Creek Greenway, which leads to the nearby Central Park, where residents can play a few games of tennis or baseball.
Easy access to amenities in Old Salem and Waughtown
When residents need to restock their pantry, they can head to the Cobblestone Farmers Market on Saturdays from April through December. Vendors sell various goods like fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers and tasty snacks. There’s also a Food Lion located 2 miles east in Waughtown. District 924 is within a half-mile of Happy Hill and features an extensive soul food menu. Residents can enjoy chicken and waffles or salmon and grits. On the weekends, residents can head to Lesser-Known Beer Company, a sleek new brewery with local beer, wine and cider. Happy Hill’s access to downtown also makes it easy to get to local restaurants, breweries and other amenities.
Commuting from Happy Hills
The neighborhood is adjacent to Highway 52, which runs through the heart of Winston-Salem. This road connects residents downtown and to nearby Interstate 40, which goes to larger commercial areas like Hanes and Waughtown. It's also how residents can get to the Piedmont Triad International Airport, located about 25 miles away. When residents are seeking public transportation, there are bus stops located along Mock Street. The community has a CAP Index crime score of 7 but has continued investment by residents in Happy Hill’s future. Happy Hills is a close-knit community that continues to evolve. With renovated parks and the addition of 21st-century housing, increased investment furthers the called-for growth of this Southern Winston-Salem neighborhood.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Next Level Realty Partners LLC,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Granville Park
Picnic Area
Tennis
Playground
Happy Hill Park
Brushy Fork Park
Basketball
Grills
Picnic Area
Washington Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Dog Park
Washington Park
Basketball
Grills
Picnic Area
Civitan Park
Transit
Airport
Piedmont Triad International
34 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Happy Hill
US
Homicide
8
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Happy Hill, Winston-Salem sell after 1 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Happy Hill, Winston-Salem over the last 12 months is $129,900, down 51% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$129,900
Median Single Family Price
$129,900
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$152
Last 12 months Home Sales
1
Median List Price
$129,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-57%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
79
Median Year Built
1956
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,081
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
960
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,623
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Next Level Realty Partners LLC,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,113
Median Age
25
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
35.4%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
8.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$29,564
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$33,003
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
74.2%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
23.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.9%
% Population in Labor Force
46.2%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
6''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
66/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
26/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
