The Town FilesWinchester, Illinois
City in Scott County · population 1,574 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,900
- Household income
- $48,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 44.6
Winchester is a city of 1,574 people in Scott County, Illinois. The median home is worth $93,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 83% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Winchester ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Winchester is worth $93,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $48,250, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $593 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winchester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $593 | $960 |
| Median household income | $48,250 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Winchester
| People | Winchester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Winchester
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winchester since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 24, 1961 about 7.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 920 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,729 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Winchester itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Winchester
2 public schools with 559 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Elem School | PK-8 | 397 | 13.7 |
| Winchester High School | 9-12 | 162 | 9.0 |
Towns near Winchester
- Bluffs, IL9.3 mi · 618 people · home $73,600
- Roodhouse, IL11.0 mi · 1,578 people · home $68,600
- Murrayville, IL11.4 mi · 567 people · home $106,800
- South Jacksonville, IL13.2 mi · 3,302 people · home $135,800
- White Hall, IL13.5 mi · 2,295 people · home $63,800
- Jacksonville, IL13.7 mi · 17,616 people · home $128,200
- Meredosia, IL14.9 mi · 826 people · home $65,300
- Griggsville, IL15.4 mi · 1,097 people · home $86,200
Winchester questions
Is Winchester, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winchester scores better for retirees than 92% of Illinois towns and quieter than 81%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Winchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Winchester is valued at $93,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,250, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $593 a month.
What is the weather like in Winchester?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.4 inches of snow.
Does Winchester get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 24, 1961. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)