Winchester is the northernmost independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. As of 2020 United States census, the city's population was 28,120. It is the principal city of the Winchester metropolitan area with a population of just over 145,000 extending into West Virginia, which is a part of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. Winchester is home to Shenandoah University and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Winchester ranks

All →

#20Closest to a top hospital in VA #36Shortest commute in VA #12Most new homes in VA All VA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code22601, 22602, 22603

Area code540

Living in Winchester

Housing in Winchester

$401K▲ 1.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Winchester home is worth about $401,000, up 1.3% in a year, close to the Virginia typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market46

Sale-to-list98.5%

Sold in May24

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Winchester

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Winchester reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 77% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Winchester 2.2

Virginia 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Winchester 21.6

Virginia 13.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Winchester

Full picture →

About one in 3 of Winchester’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Front Royal (1%), Leesburg (1%) and Harrisonburg (1%). Half commute less than 9 miles.

Front Royal

Leesburg

Harrisonburg

Chantilly

29%Work in townlive and work in Winchester 9 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 25,567Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Winchester →

Health in Winchester

Health Grade C

Healthier than 28% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Virginia

15worse than VA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

13.1%More uninsured adultsVA 8.7% · worse 18.9%More adults facing food insecurityVA 13.1% · worse 10.4%More adults without reliable transportationVA 7.4% · worse

Care nearby

Winchester Medical CenterWinchester · 1.5 mi · ER

Sch WinchesterWinchester · 1.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Winchester · CMS · HRSAHealth in Winchester →

Natural hazards in Winchester

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 6% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌀 Hurricanes🏚️ Earthquakes

9Does Winchester flood?paid flood claims since 1978 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Winchester

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Winchester →

Climate in Winchester

Full climate →

Winchester has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 23 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

44° / 25°Winter

64° / 40°Spring

84° / 61°Summer

67° / 44°Fall

How much snow does Winchester get?About 23 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 29, with the last in spring around Apr 11.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Winchester →

Schools in Winchester

All Winchester schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Winchester’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 65% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Winchester’s schools compare in VA →

DistrictWinchester City Public SchoolsSchools10

John Kerr Elementary C+Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 583 students Virginia Avenue Charlotte Dehart Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 415 students Garland R. Quarles Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 410 students Frederick Douglass Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 376 students Sacred Heart AcademyElementary · Grades PK–8 · 242 students James Wood Middle C-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 873 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within VA. Ratings are from neighbors.