Winchester cost of living
Prices in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area run at 96.5 against a national average of 100, ranking it #139 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 90.0.
What drives the number
Prices in Winchester run at 96.5 where the national average is 100, so about 3.5 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #139 of 387 metro areas. Against Virginia as a whole it is 4.6 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 96.7, rents at 90.0, other services at 89.7. Goods are close to national almost everywhere, because most are shipped and priced nationally, so it is worth noticing when rents behave the same way.
Low prices only help if pay does not fall by more. Dividing the local median wage by 96.5 is how to check, and the wage pages carry that comparison.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Winchester is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 2,290 | $30,280 | $31,378 | $34,580 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,990 | $37,090 | $38,435 | $37,090 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 1,930 | $47,310 | $49,026 | $46,390 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,770 | $58,190 | $60,301 | $57,440 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,760 | $40,750 | $42,228 | $38,940 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,610 | $28,020 | $29,036 | $30,480 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,580 | $91,280 | $94,591 | $93,600 |
| Cashiers | 1,560 | $29,040 | $30,093 | $31,190 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 96.5.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 108.9 | 151.1 | #15 |
| Charlottesville | 99.1 | 107.0 | #97 |
| Richmond | 97.9 | 99.1 | #115 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 97.9 | 99.8 | #116 |
| Harrisonburg | 94.9 | 82.3 | #170 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | 94.2 | 75.7 | #179 |
Winchester: common questions
Is Winchester expensive?
Prices are 3.5% below the national average, a parity of 96.5 where the country is 100. It ranks #139 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Virginia as a whole it is 4.6 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Winchester?
The median worker there earns $47,310, which buys what $49,026 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 90.0 against goods at 96.7. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.