Winchester had 28,272 residents on July 1, 2025, the Census Bureau estimates, up 7.9% since 2010. Age, income, households and housing figures.
Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is linked to its source. Questions about Census data: the Census Bureau’s customer line, 1-800-923-8282. This page is updated when the bureau publishes new figures.
The city of Winchester had an estimated 28,272 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates. That is 152 more people (0.5%) than the 2020 census count of 28,120 and 2,069 more (7.9%) than the 2010 census count of 26,203. The Census Bureau’s QuickFacts page for Winchester city summarizes the same releases.
What this means for you
- Winchester’s population has been close to flat since 2020; the 2025 estimate is the highest yet.
- Most Winchester households rent (56.4%), the reverse of Frederick County, where 79.3% own their homes.
- The city’s median household income, $63,974, is about two-thirds of the county’s.
Winchester’s population since 2010
The 2010s added 1,917 residents, a rise of 7.3%. The bureau’s yearly estimates for the city, each as of July 1, are:
| Year | Estimated residents |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 28,003 |
| 2021 | 28,088 |
| 2022 | 27,963 |
| 2023 | 27,864 |
| 2024 | 28,082 |
| 2025 | 28,272 |
Source: Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 subcounty population estimates for Virginia.
Winchester, Frederick County and Virginia compared
Winchester is an independent city, so it is not part of Frederick County, which surrounds it. Figures below are from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, data profiles DP02 to DP05, except the 2025 population row.
| Measure | Winchester | Frederick County | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 28,272 | 99,955 | 8,880,107 |
| Change since 2020 census | +0.5% | +9.3% | n/a |
| Median age | 36.8 | 40.8 | 39.0 |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 22.7% | 21.7% |
| 65 and older | 16.7% | 18.8% | 16.7% |
| Households | 11,492 | 35,385 | 3,365,732 |
| Average household size | 2.33 | 2.64 | 2.52 |
| Median household income | $63,974 | $97,606 | $93,170 |
| People below the poverty level | 21.5% | 6.8% | 9.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 and older) | 31.3% | 31.9% | 42.2% |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.1% | 7.8% | 13.1% |
Frederick County grew from 78,305 in the 2010 census to 91,419 in 2020, according to the 2010 and 2020 counts, and added about 8,500 more people by 2025.
Housing
From the same 2020-2024 survey:
| Measure | Winchester | Frederick County | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 12,541 | 37,288 | 3,684,756 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 43.6% | 79.3% | 67.3% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 56.4% | 20.7% | 32.7% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $343,000 | $386,000 | $383,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,315 | $1,507 | $1,579 |
Survey values are what owners reported over 2020 to 2024 and run below today’s market. For current prices, see our home prices guide.
About these numbers
- Population estimates are the bureau’s yearly figures for July 1, built from the 2020 census plus births, deaths and migration.
- American Community Survey figures are five-year averages from a sample of households, with margins of error, which are larger for a city of Winchester’s size.
- Census counts (2010 and 2020) are full counts taken April 1 of those years.
Related guides: moving to Winchester, schools and history and landmarks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Winchester, Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates the city of Winchester had 28,272 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 28,120.
Is Winchester, Virginia, growing?
Slowly. The city grew 7.3% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, from 26,203 to 28,120, and has stayed between about 27,900 and 28,300 since. Frederick County, around it, has grown much faster.
What is the median household income in Winchester?
$63,974 in the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with $97,606 in Frederick County and $93,170 for Virginia.
How many households are in Winchester?
About 11,492, with an average of 2.33 people each, according to the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Most of them, 56.4%, rent their homes.
What is the population of Frederick County, Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates Frederick County had 99,955 residents on July 1, 2025, up 9.3% from the 2020 census count of 91,419. The city of Winchester is separate from the county.
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