Below Average CostSafer than AverageFrederick County Public Schools
Loudoun Street Mall · APK / CC BY-SA 4.0419 North Loudoun Street · APK / CC BY-SA 4.0Circa 1875 in Winchester, VA · Internet Archive Book Images / Public domainJackson headquarters · Grayghost01 at English Wikipedia / Public domain
Winchester is a small city of 28,103 in Virginia, with a median household income of $62,495
and a 5.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Winchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Winchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Winchester city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.3
Winchester's overall cost of living index is 94.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Winchester costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Winchester, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$299,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,230
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
43.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,495
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Winchester's violent crime rate is 238.3 per 100,000 residents
— 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
238.3 /100k
Property Crime
2328.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Winchester is served primarily by Frederick County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Winchester, VA
National Avg
School District
Frederick County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
12
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Winchester sees average highs of 41.4°F in January
and 85.9°F in July,
with 40.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.1 inches of snow per year.
Winchester's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Winchester roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $299,900 and median rent is $1,230/month.
Winchester's violent crime rate is 238.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2328.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Winchester are operated by Frederick County Public Schools.
The district has 12 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Winchester, VA has a population of 28,103, a median household income of $62,495, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Winchester averages 41.4°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.7 inches
with about 23.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Winchester, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 22601.
The population of Winchester, Virginia is 28,103 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Winchester: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $299,900, median household income $62,495, crime index 82 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Winchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
