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Living in
Winchester.
Winchester is an unincorporated community in Middlesex County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Winchester
Winchester is a community of 22,862 people in Massachusetts. The median household income is $230,198, median rent runs about $2,271 per month, and median home values are around $1,215,200. Unemployment is low at 4.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Winchester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Foreign-Born
20.1%
Broadband Internet
96.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.1% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Winchester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Winchester, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (28.0%), and 8.0% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
27.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.8%
of households
Married Couples
64.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.77
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Winchester
In Winchester, rent runs 29% above the MA average, and home values are 116% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
81.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,530,404 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Winchester
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Winchester, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Winchester: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Winchester is about 1% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Winchester Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.4 min avg
How Winchester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Winchester, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 94% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Winchester runs 94% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
20.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
405.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Winchester Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Winchester, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Winchester is about 1% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Winchester, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Winchester is about 1% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Winchester has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.4"
Annual Snowfall
63.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 3.86" |
| Feb | 40°F | 20°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 4.89" |
| Apr | 60°F | 37°F | 4.34" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.76" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 4.01" |
| Dec | 43°F | 24°F | 5.02" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Winchester
Winchester has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Melrose
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Burlington
Mclean Hospital Corporation
Psychiatric · 5 mi away · Belmont
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Winchester
Winchester's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 79.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
79.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Winchester (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
10.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Winchester
Winchester has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
14 mi awayPublic Libraries in Winchester
Winchester Public Library
80 Washington Street, Winchester
Cities Near Winchester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Winchester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Winchester FAQ
Is Winchester, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Winchester's median rent is $2,279/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $230,198/year. Median home value is $1,215,200.
Is Winchester, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Winchester's violent crime rate was 21 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 406 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Winchester, Massachusetts?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Winchester, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Winchester, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Winchester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,279/month and median household income is $230,198/year. The median home value is $1,215,200. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Winchester, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Winchester is 31 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from