Rural Hall is not so rural, with convenience and activities
Rural Hall’s name is slightly misconceiving, because the town is not so rural. The area has tall, full trees near homes that lend to the small-town atmosphere, but Rural Hall also has frequent community events and jobs close to home. “Rural Hall has close proximity to Winston-Salem, and that makes it really attractive,” says Shawn Gaudet de Lestard, an experienced broker and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Elite who does business across the Triad area. “There’s enough shopping there with Little Italy Pizza, the Tractor Supply, a vet clinic and a grocery store. And, Rural Hall is about eight minutes north of Winston-Salem.” Being on the northern edge of Forsyth County comes with its perks. Home prices are lower than those closer to downtown, and new subdivisions are adding to the area's housing. Rural Hall also has convenient access to a grocery store and some restaurants; when residents want more options, they can take a short drive to King or Winston-Salem.
New homes just outside Winston-Salem
Living on the outskirts of Winston-Salem means having larger yards. The streets are sidewalk-free, so residents don’t have to worry about mowing around sidewalks. Large Colonial Revivals can sell for $400,000 to nearly $530,000, while newly built New Traditionals and renovated Colonial Revivals have sold for $240,000 to $400,000. “Rural Hall has had a number of new neighborhoods over the last five years,” Gaudet de Lestard says. “There’s been an awful lot of demand due to the convenience of the new highway.” Many subdivisions have HOAs that don't charge fees, but some, including Chandler's Pointe, charge about $50 a month for amenities like the community pool. Ranch-style homes have ranged from $100,000 to $240,000, though some needed renovations.
Working for major employers near home or in Winston-Salem
Manufacturing and distribution plants in the southern corner of Rural Hall allow residents to work close to home. One such plant is owned by HanesBrands, one of the leading employers in Forsyth County. “There’s employment in Rural Hall maybe two minutes from homes,” Gaudet de Lestard says. "You've got a number of unassuming employers that hold good opportunities. They quietly operate, so people don’t even realize they’re there.” Jobs in health care and education are among the leading industries in the county, so locals might commute 8 miles down state Route 52 to the private Wake Forest University or 15 miles to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in downtown Winston-Salem. The Interstate 74 beltway opened in 2025, creating an easier path to Greensboro. Using I-74, the 40-mile trip to Greensboro takes about 40 minutes, and the Piedmont Triad International Airport is about 30 miles away or a roughly half-hour drive.
Running in the Flat & Fast to fundraise for Rural Hall Elementary
Rural Hall is a part of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district, which Niche gives an A-minus and ranks it as the best school district in the Greensboro area. Rural Hall Elementary earns a B-minus. Every October, Rural Hall hosts the Flat & Fast 5K and 10K run, which raises money for the elementary school. Northwest Middle School gets a C-plus and feeds into North Forsyth High School, which offers magnet programs in subjects like nursing and animal science. North Forsyth High is rated C-plus.
Hanging out in Covington Memorial Park or crocheting at the library
Covington Memorial Park is Rural Hall’s primary public green space, where people can play tennis, pickleball or basketball on the paved multipurpose court. The park’s walking trail circles the playground, covered picnic tables and baseball field, even leading past the park’s pond. Anyone who lives closer to Rural Hall Elementary can take their kids after school to the two playgrounds or Little League fields. Readers and crochet enthusiasts might join the Hooks & Books club at Rural Hall/Stanleyville Branch Library, which also organizes story time and game nights for kids.
RuralFEST and Water Day activities every summer
Rural Hall may be a small town, but town hall and local groups put on enough events to rival a major city. Broad Street closes every Halloween so kids can trick-or-treat, and the Rural Hall Fire Department gets involved with the Summer Splash Day & Foam Party every summer. The fire department also makes an appearance at Revo Church - North Campus' annual Water Day. RuralFEST is a two-day concert festival held every June in Covington Memorial Park. Bands play music while visitors order from food vendors, see classic cars on display and let their kids play games. The festival always ends with an evening fireworks display.
Restaurants close to home and shopping along Route 52
Residents don’t have to drive far to find a place to eat. “Some of my favorites are King Kitchen and Amazing Thailand, two staples,” Gaudet de Lestard says. “There are Little Italy Pizzas, and the Dalton and Mercantile areas are nearby, so the community is getting the benefit of those areas, too.” Most restaurants line Bethania-Rural Hall Road, including one of Little Italy Pizza’s locations and the Mayflower Seafood Restaurant, a busy spot around dinner. Frank’s Kitchen is a quieter place to get breakfast before work. Across the street, Food Lion sells fresh produce and other groceries. Shopping in Rural Hall is limited to car part stores and garden centers, so most people drive to the Target near Wake Forest University or visit shopping centers along Route 52.
Hearing the sound of historic train tracks in use
The Rural Hall Historic Train Depot stands out among the train tracks with its yellow siding and red roof, and the museum inside holds scheduled tours, highlighting how important the two rail lines just outside the museum were to Rural Hall in the late 1800s. The depot may not sell train tickets anymore, but Yadkin Valley Railroad is still used by freight trains. Residents who live close to the rail line might hear the trains as they pass through, and drivers might have to stop and wait for the train to cross Bethania or Second Street.
