Winchester, MA brings style and New England charm to suburban life. Beautiful architecture and upscale neighborhoods draw affluent professionals who tend to work in the city, and the lifestyle is both elegant and relaxed. With a median home price of $1.3 million, buying property is definitely not cheap, but the town's atmosphere is truly magnetic.
At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Winchester was 21,374, up 2.7% from 2000 numbers. Of those residents, 18,625 were white, 1,998 were Asian, 221 were Black or African American, and 424 reported that they were two or more races. The number of American Indian and Alaska Natives dropped a dramatic 41%, from 29 to just 12, between the 2000 census and 2010.
The majority of Winchester residents, like Massachusetts in general and the Boston area in particular, are left-leaning politically. Twenty-nine percent of residents said they were Democrats, 57% called themselves non-partisan, and just 13.5% said they voted Republican. About half of Winchester residents are married, with 7,715 households and 5,724 families living in the town. The median age of residents is 41.
Winchester is considered one of the safest towns in the Boston metro area. Only ten violent crimes have been reported in the last ten years. Burglary, the most common crime, also happens very rarely. Winchester is the kind of place you can feel good about raising a family and leaving the back door unlocked.
Winchester is known to be a quiet, affluent bedroom community with well-planned streets, beautiful historic buildings and homes, and well-maintained parks and green spaces. It's not a hopping center for culture, though. While there is a community theater and the town hosts some community outdoor events during the summers, you'll have to travel to Boston for professional productions and top-quality museums and concerts.
Winchester was once an industrial village of tanneries and grist mills. Later, an influx of wealthy businessmen from Boston resulted in beautiful suburban neighborhoods chock-full of unique homes in the Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Shaker Shingle, and Mansard styles. These homes still constitute some of the area's most desirable places to live thanks to their historic beauty and modern updates.
Winchester residents make more than most people anywhere in the nation and almost twice as much as Massachusetts residents, which boasts the sixth highest median household incomes in the nation. The median household income in Winchester is $128,199, compared to $65,401 in the state of Massachusetts as a whole and a national median of $53,657.
The town is also home to some of Boston's most highly-rated schools. Winchester High School ranks 25th in the state and is known as one of Boston's premier public high schools. There are also four other public schools in Winchester, including five elementary schools and one middle school. A selection of public schools, including one of the nation's earliest surviving Montessori schools, also gives Winchester residents plenty of educational options for their children.
Easy access to Boston via commuter rail or car makes it easy to go to the city for a concert or performance, or to visit one of the city's prestigious museums. But there's also plenty to do within Winchester itself, from small shops in Winchester itself to nearby Burlington Mall.
One of the most notable things about Winchester is just how little it has changed since it was first settled in 1640. Of course, paved roads, electricity, and other modern conveniences have changed the face of the town a little, but historic buildings are enthusiastically well-preserved, town government remains practically unchanged, and Winchester has retained its quintessential New England beauty very well.
Some of Winchester's top attractions surround the town's parks and green spaces. The Wright-Locke farm is an impeccably-maintained organic farm dating back to the town's early days, and today visitors can walk through the farmhouse and field, enjoy fresh fruit, berries, and other in-season produce, and even take a tractor ride (a favorite for kids). During the colder months, ice skating on Winter Pond is a favorite among many Winchester residents. Next Door Theater and the Griffin Museum of Photography offer a getaway and interesting stops for those with more indoor interests.
If you're interested in moving to Winchester, now is a great time to investigate your options and talk to a local agent who can work with you to find your dream home. Movoto agents are area experts who live and work near the same neighborhoods you're interested in, so they'll be able to provide the insight and advice of a local--the perfect advocates for your home search.
