Is Union Cross safe?
Winston-Salem, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Union Cross as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Union Cross
“Go. Union Cross is a quiet, low-crime suburban and light-industrial community on the southeastern edge of Winston-Salem. Visitors will encounter minimal safety risks, though a vehicle is necessary to get around.”
About the area
Union Cross is a tranquil, semi-rural to suburban area characterized by spacious residential subdivisions, rolling landscapes, and modern logistics hubs. It offers a relaxed pace outside the city core with convenient highway access to both downtown Winston-Salem and Kernersville.
- Suburban / Semi-Rural
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Union Cross
Walk score: 14/100 · Bike score: 22/100
There is no bike-share infrastructure or designated bike lane network in Union Cross, and high vehicle speeds on narrow rural roads make cycling challenging.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low violent and property crime rates well below the Winston-Salem municipal average
- High rate of homeownership and well-maintained single-family residential properties
- Solid median household income levels and low overall poverty rate
- Convenient highway connectivity to I-40 and major Triad employment hubs
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with almost zero pedestrian infrastructure
- Increased heavy truck traffic along the main industrial and logistics corridors
- Sparse selection of entertainment, cultural attractions, or nightlife within the neighborhood boundary
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Union Cross due to its outer suburban profile and lack of centralized transit or social services.
What Union Cross is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and peaceful, with commuter traffic and school buses active along the primary two-lane roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and safe, seeing regular traffic flow between residential pockets and local distribution hubs.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Very quiet and secure as commercial centers close and activity moves indoors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Dark and low-traffic with very little activity; safe to drive through, though unlit for walking.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is virtually nonexistent in Union Cross; the Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) operates almost entirely within the urban core and does not provide regular fixed-route service to this outer area.
Parking is completely free and abundant in private driveways, surface lots, and retail plazas throughout the area.
Things to do in Union Cross
- Enjoy the playgrounds, athletic fields, and open greenspace at Union Cross Traditional Park.
- Play a round of golf at the nearby Wilshire Golf Club.
- Take a short drive north to explore historic downtown Kernersville and Körner's Folly.
Local favorites
- Cagney's Kitchen · Diner / American · 4.3★ (1150)A popular local standby serving generous portions of Southern breakfast platters, burgers, and comfort food.
- East Coast Wings + Grill · Chicken Wings & Grill · 4.1★ (860)Casual sports bar eatery featuring a wide variety of wing sauces, burgers, and craft beers on tap.
- Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (1520)Lively family-friendly destination for traditional Mexican favorites, fajitas, and margaritas.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.