Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Winchester’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and history and an A− for civic life; the weakest is a D− for incomes. 21% of residents live below the poverty line in Winchester, above both Illinois’ towns (8.4%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). On incomes, just 21 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns do worse. Winchester’s density of trails is 1.3 miles per square mile, where Illinois’ towns sit at 0.3 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Only 22 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns score higher on history. Winchester has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Winchester beats most towns.
Winchester Historic DistrictWhere Winchester’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Winchester is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1907.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Winchester, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Winchester.
The top destinations are Jacksonville (20%), Springfield (13%) and Beardstown (2%). Commuting out is the norm in Winchester: 17% of working residents work locally. In Winchester, the typical household income is $48,000. The median commute is under 26 miles.
| Winchester | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by Winchester CUSD 1. Public school enrollment locally: 567 students across 2 schools.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Elem SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 401 | B+ |
| Winchester High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 166 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IL on state tests and graduation
The midsummer high in Winchester is 87°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in Winchester than in 64% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Winchester break down as 23% from inland flooding and 21% from drought.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The share of adults in Winchester who report frequent mental distress: 18%. CDC measures, 32 in all: Winchester beats Illinois on 3 and trails on 7. 14% of adults in Winchester report frequent physical distress; 38% have obesity.
| Winchester | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 13% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 37% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 35% | 35% |
| What stands out | Winchester | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.5% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.4% | 13.2% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17% | 10.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Among households in Winchester, 64% live in a home they own.
| Winchester | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $593 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 64% | 75% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1 within 15 miles of the center of Winchester
About 3 of every 100 Winchester residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
5 notable people were born in Winchester.
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. The typical home is worth about $94,000, 68% below the Illinois typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
5 notable people were born here, including Greene Vardiman Black and George O'Donnell.