Winchester area report

Highlights

Winchester is a city in Hampshire with a population of 127445. The median house price is 460000, with detached homes at 640000 and flats at 237500. Prices have grown 7.0 per cent over five years. The affordability ratio is 10.7, comparing median earnings of 43195 to housing costs. Most residents are aged 45 to 64, with a median age of 43.0. Around 89.0 per cent were born in the UK. Owner-occupation is strong at 65.6 per cent of households. Employment is relatively high at 57.8 per cent, with significant self-employment at 19.2 per cent. Health outcomes are positive: life expectancy is 82.9 for males and 86.6 for females. The area has 43 primary schools and 4 secondary schools; 19 of 20 Ofsted-rated schools are rated good or better. Crime stood at 6.3 per 1000 residents in May 2026. Air quality is low for nitrogen dioxide and moderate for PM2.5. Superfast broadband coverage reaches 86.7 per cent of premises. Rail access includes Winchester Rail Station with a 57-minute commute to London Waterloo.

Data updated 2026/27 (tax); 2025 (control). Winchester, Hampshire — a free, sourced local-area report from Acreright. Every figure shows its source and date; where the data isn't reliable we say so rather than guess.

Within Hampshire, Winchester ranks 13th cheapest of 13, 7th safest and 11th most affordable.

What does it cost?

• £460,000 median home price (HM Land Registry Price Paid + UK HPI, Apr 2026)

Sold prices in Winchester have risen 9% over the last five years (UK House Price Index).

How safe is it?

• 6.3 recorded crimes per 1,000 people (police.uk, May 2026)

Who lives here?

• 127,445 residents (ONS Census 2021 (Nomis), 2021)

About 75% of neighbourhoods in England are more deprived than Winchester (English Indices of Deprivation, decile 8 of 10, national basis). More deprived than in 2019 (decile 8 then).

Schools

• 95% of inspected schools rated Good or Outstanding (Get Information About Schools (GIAS) + Ofsted inspections MI, 2026)

Health

• 82.9 · 86.6 yrs life expectancy (men · women) (NHS ODS register (GP/dentist/pharmacy) + OSM (hospitals) + IoD2025 health domain + OHID Fingertips (outcomes), 2026/2025)

Getting around

• ≈57 min fastest train to London (OpenStreetMap + National Rail timetable (ATOC/RDG, GTFS), 2026)
• 51% of premises can get gigabit broadband (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024, Jul 2024)

Has it been a good investment?

Of homes in Winchester that changed hands in the last five years, 12.3% sold for less than the previous owner paid — 4.8 points below South East (17.1%) (nominal, not inflation-adjusted). Across those resales the typical gain was 20% over 7.76 years held.

Investment context: a gross rental yield of about 4.2% (area median rent against the median sold price) — appraise a specific property at /appraisal/winchester.

Compare every area in Hampshire: Hampshire area guide & rankings.

Nearby areas we cover: Eastleigh, Southampton, Fareham.