Winchester County, VA

This county of 28,226 residents needs 484 more housing units over the next five years. Winchester County is part of the Winchester-Frederick County MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
28,226 (2026)
Households
11,510
Median household income
$66,336 (2026)
Typical home value
$352,556
Owner-occupied
40%
Five-year housing need
484 units

Comparison to other Virginia counties

Winchester County: $66,336 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$43K >$154K
Winchester County: 2.29 jobs to household ratio
<0.31 >1.73
Winchester County: Permits since 2021 represent 5.5% of housing
<0.2% >11.9%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

A typical home in Winchester County, VA costs $352,556, somewhat above the Virginia average of $287,140. At a median household income of $66,336 in Winchester County, VA, affordability is stretched, with households needing roughly $18,658 more to comfortably afford the typical home.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Winchester County, VA has a population of roughly 27,913 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Winchester County, VA has roughly 11,510 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Winchester County, VA, detached single-family accounts for 57% of the housing stock. In Winchester County, VA, renters make up the majority, with only 40% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Winchester County, VA needs 484 new units over the next 5 years.

484
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
138
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.2 per 1,000 units.
249
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 4.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
97
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 4.2%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
484
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
97
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
3.9%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.8%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?