The Town FilesWinchester, Virginia
City in Winchester city · population 28,120 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $343,000
- Household income
- $63,974
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 36.8
Winchester is a city of 28,120 people in Winchester city, Virginia. The median home is worth $343,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 98% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 97% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 95% of Virginia towns.
How Winchester ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Winchester is worth $343,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $63,974, which is more affordable than 10% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,315 a month. 43.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winchester | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $343,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,315 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $63,974 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Winchester
| People | Winchester | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Winchester
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winchester since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 17, 2004 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 23, 1999.
Severe weather in Winchester city since 1996
Winchester city has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Winchester city
Winchester city had 24,937 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,266 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Winchester itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Winchester
22 public schools with 13,770 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millbrook High | 9-12 | 1,573 | 13.1 |
| James Wood High | 9-12 | 1,463 | 13.3 |
| John Handley High | 9-12 | 1,355 | 20.8 |
| James Wood Middle | 6-8 | 834 | 12.4 |
| Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle | 6-8 | 808 | 11.2 |
| Frederick County Middle | 6-8 | 751 | 11.6 |
| John Kerr Elementary | PK-4 | 604 | 16.3 |
| Daniel Morgan Intermediate | 5-6 | 600 | 21.4 |
| Armel Elementary | PK-5 | 598 | 15.3 |
| Redbud Run Elementary | PK-5 | 596 | 14.9 |
| Daniel Morgan Middle | 7-8 | 589 | 20.3 |
| Greenwood Mill Elementary | PK-5 | 582 | 15.3 |
Towns near Winchester
- Berryville, VA10.7 mi · 4,574 people · home $550,500
- Inwood, WV14.0 mi · 3,426 people · home $268,400
- Strasburg, VA15.0 mi · 7,083 people · home $269,100
- Shenandoah Farms, VA15.4 mi · 4,135 people · home $280,700
- Charles Town, WV17.0 mi · 6,534 people · home $377,700
- Front Royal, VA17.2 mi · 15,011 people · home $314,400
- Ranson corporation, WV18.3 mi · 5,433 people · home $242,700
- Shannondale, WV19.8 mi · 3,487 people · home $293,600
Winchester questions
Is Winchester, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winchester scores better for retirees than 24% of Virginia towns and quieter than 15%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Winchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Winchester is valued at $343,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,974, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,315 a month.
What is the weather like in Winchester?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does Winchester get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 17, 2004. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)