The Town Files

Windsor, California

Town in Sonoma County · population 26,344 (2020 Census)

Map: where Windsor is in CaliforniaWindsor
Median home
$801,100
Household income
$133,979
Jan low / Jul high
38° / 84°
Snow a year
0 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
9
Median age
42.7

Windsor is a town of 26,344 people in Sonoma County, California. The median home is worth $801,100, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for families than 76% of California towns, more of a college town than 73% of California towns, easier by car than 71% of California towns.

How Windsor ranks

Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.

Windsor lifestyle rankings vs other California townsRetirement54th pctFamilies76th pctQuiet46th pctWalkability58th pctFirst-time buyers46th pctYoung professionals61st pctVibrancy61st pctHip & trendy47th pctCollege town73rd pctUpscale70th pctVacation homesbottomSeaside characterbottomCycling70th pctTransit57th pctDriving71st pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Windsor is worth $801,100, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $133,979, which is more affordable than 58% of California towns. Median rent is $2,433 a month. 75.6% of households own their home.

Windsor vs Sonoma County vs typical California townWindsorSonoma CountyTypical California townHome value$801,100$815,500$596,900Household income$133,979$104,674$91,557Monthly rent$2,433$2,158$1,827
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of California towns with 500+ people.
HousingWindsorTypical California town
Median home value$801,100$596,900
Median rent$2,433$1,827
Median household income$133,979$91,557
Home value ÷ income6.0×6.4×
Homeownership75.6%67.4%
Median year built19931977
Seasonal / vacation homes2.4%—

Who lives in Windsor

PeopleWindsorTypical California town
Median age42.740.2
Age 65 and over17.5%17.7%
Under 1822.4%—
Bachelor's degree or higher36.3%27.7%
Below the poverty line5.9%10.3%
Veterans5.5%—
Born outside the U.S.14.2%—
Work from home11.9%13.4%
Average commute22.7 min27.5 min
Homes with broadband94.3%93.3%

Weather in Windsor

July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 37.5°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.

Windsor monthly temperatures and precipitation30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing58°38°Jan62°39°Feb65°41°Mar69°43°Apr75°47°May82°50°Jun84°52°Jul84°52°Aug83°50°Sep77°46°Oct65°40°Nov58°37°DecPrecipitation (in)6.76.74.62.11.30.30.00.10.11.63.66.8
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Santa Rosa Sonoma Co Ap station (2.7 mi away); snow from Healdsburg (6.8 mi).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Windsor since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 18, 2011 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 18, 2011.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Windsor by decade01950s11960s01970s11980s51990s12000s12010s02020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Severe weather in Sonoma County since 1996

Storm events in Sonoma County since 1996 by typeHail21Heat20Flood256Dense Fog17High Surf19High Wind69Heavy Rain24Debris Flow67
NOAA Storm Events Database, Sonoma County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 57 deaths recorded.

Sonoma County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 3, 2023Severe StormDR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
March 10, 2023FloodEM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
January 14, 2023FloodDR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
January 9, 2023FloodEM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides
October 16, 2020FireDR-4569: Wildfires

Jobs and pay in Sonoma County

Sonoma County had 206,849 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,422 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Windsor itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.

Largest industries in Sonoma CountyHealth care & social assistan…33,992 jobs · $75,712Retail22,460 jobs · $46,087Hotels & restaurants21,171 jobs · $36,237Manufacturing21,072 jobs · $94,399Construction16,281 jobs · $85,465Administrative & support12,838 jobs · $54,054
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Sonoma County, 2000–20230%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023Sonoma 3.6%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Public schools in Windsor

6 public schools with 4,070 students, about 20.0 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
Windsor High9-121,63819.7
Cali Calmecac Language Academy (charter)K-81,09922.0
Windsor Middle6-876519.1
Brooks Elementary3-547022.4
North Bay Met AcademyK-12639.0
Windsor Oaks Academy9-123517.5

Towns near Windsor

Windsor questions

Is Windsor, California a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Windsor scores better for retirees than 54% of California towns and quieter than 46%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).

How much does a house cost in Windsor?

The median owner-occupied home in Windsor is valued at $801,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $133,979, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $2,433 a month.

What is the weather like in Windsor?

July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 37.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.

Does Windsor get tornadoes?

9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Windsor since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 18, 2011. The typical California town has had 2.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Windsor's Census boundary (GEOID 0685922). Comparisons use the median of California towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.