Winchester has the Third-Highest Growth Rate Among Virginia Cities

Published on April 09, 2025

The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Policy at the University of Virginia has released its official 2024 population estimates for all Virginia cities, counties, and towns. Winchester had the third highest post-2020 Census growth rate among cities in the Commonwealth, and Winchester and Frederick County continue to be growth engines in the northern Shenandoah Valley. 

As of July 1, 2024, Winchester's estimated population is 29,294, a 1.05% average annual growth rate. This number aligns with the 1% growth rate that the City uses for planning purposes and represents a sustainable growth rate. It is also higher than the average rate of 0.7% growth in Virginia cities, especially as 19 of Virginia’s 38 cities experienced a net population decline.