The Town FilesWinder, Georgia
City in Barrow County · population 18,338 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,500
- Household income
- $63,779
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 35.9
Winder is a city of 18,338 people in Barrow County, Georgia. The median home is worth $288,500, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 80% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 80% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 72% of Georgia towns.
How Winder ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Winder is worth $288,500, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $63,779, which is more affordable than 17% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,209 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winder | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,209 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $63,779 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Winder
| People | Winder | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 33.4 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Winder
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winder since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Barrow County since 1996
Barrow County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Barrow County
Barrow County had 24,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,359 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Winder itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Winder
12 public schools with 11,645 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apalachee High School | 9-12 | 1,928 | 15.5 |
| Winder-Barrow High School | 9-12 | 1,856 | 15.2 |
| Russell Middle School | 6-8 | 988 | 15.7 |
| Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy | 9-12 | 943 | 16.3 |
| Haymon-Morris Middle School | 6-8 | 939 | 15.7 |
| Yargo Elementary School | PK-5 | 796 | 13.3 |
| Holsenbeck Elementary School | PK-5 | 789 | 13.2 |
| Kennedy Elementary School | PK-5 | 748 | 12.3 |
| Westside Middle School | 6-8 | 744 | 13.5 |
| Winder Elementary School | PK-5 | 681 | 12.2 |
| Austin Road Elementary School | PK-5 | 664 | 14.1 |
| County Line Elementary School | PK-5 | 569 | 11.9 |
Towns near Winder
- Auburn, GA6.5 mi · 7,495 people · home $299,700
- Hoschton, GA6.8 mi · 2,666 people · home $386,300
- Statham, GA7.1 mi · 2,813 people · home $247,600
- Braselton, GA9.5 mi · 13,403 people · home $459,400
- Dacula, GA10.2 mi · 6,882 people · home $359,000
- Jefferson, GA12.2 mi · 13,233 people · home $377,300
- Monroe, GA13.4 mi · 14,928 people · home $259,300
- Loganville, GA14.7 mi · 14,127 people · home $366,100
Winder questions
Is Winder, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winder scores better for retirees than 19% of Georgia towns and quieter than 37%. 12.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Winder?
The median owner-occupied home in Winder is valued at $288,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,779, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,209 a month.
What is the weather like in Winder?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Winder get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winder since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)