Is Winder Safe, Pros and cons of living in Winder
Is it Safe to Live in Winder?
Winder, Georgia, presents a mixed picture regarding safety, with crime rates that require consideration. The city’s overall crime rate is lower than the national average, with property crime rates also falling below the national average. However, violent crime rates in Winder are higher than the national average.
When considering personal safety, it’s important to note that your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Winder is approximately 1 in 516, while the chance of being a victim of property crime is about 1 in 87 (according to NeighborhoodScout). While Winder is considered safer than 75% of U.S. cities, crime rates can vary significantly by neighborhood, with some areas being considerably safer than others (as reported by AreaVibes).
Housing Costs and Availability
The housing market in Winder offers a range of options, with median home prices fluctuating. As of March 2026, the median sale price of a home in Winder was $341,000, representing an 8.1% decrease compared to the previous year (as reported by Redfin). Other sources indicate a median home value of $288,500 (according to Niche) and a median property value of $223,704 (as reported by Livability.com).
Rental prices in Winder also present varied figures. The average rent for an apartment in Winder is reported as $1,922 per month (according to RentCafe), while other sources suggest an average rent of $1,140 per month for a one-bedroom apartment (as reported by Apartments.com and Zillow). The median monthly rent has been cited as $922 (according to Livability.com).
Cost of Living and Economic Factors
Winder’s cost of living is generally considered to be slightly lower than the national average. One report indicates that Winder’s cost of living is 4% lower than the national average, with housing expenses being 11% lower and utility prices 16% lower (as reported by PayScale). However, another source suggests that living costs in Winder are 7% higher than the U.S. national average, primarily driven by housing, transportation, and food prices (according to Salary.com).
The median household income in Winder is approximately $63,779 per year (as reported by Data USA and ZoomProspector), with a poverty rate of 13.2% (according to Data USA). The unemployment rate in Winder stands at 5.5% (according to Point2Homes), which is higher than the Georgia state average of 3.5% as of November 2025 (according to the Georgia Department of Labor).
Job Market and Major Employers
The job market in Winder has seen growth, with employment increasing by 6.83% from the previous year, leading to approximately 9,476 employed individuals (as reported by Data USA). The most common employment sectors for Winder residents include retail trade, manufacturing, and educational services.
Major employers in the Winder area include large retail chains such as Walmart, McDonald’s, Target, ALDI, and Dollar General (as listed on Indeed.com). Other significant employers include the United States Postal Service, Starbucks, and Publix. Manufacturing companies like 48forty Solutions, LLC, Trinity Industries, and Baldor Electric Company also contribute to the local job market.
Climate and Weather
Winder experiences a climate characterized by hot, muggy summers and short, mild winters. The average annual temperature ranges from a low of 32°F in January to a high of 90°F in July (as reported by Livability.com and myPerfectWeather). The city receives an average of 53 inches of precipitation annually, with the wettest month typically being June (as reported by myPerfectWeather).
The period from mid-March to May and mid-September to October is generally considered the most pleasant for visiting Winder, offering comfortable weather conditions. The summer months, from June to August, can be uncomfortably humid, while winter temperatures rarely drop significantly below freezing (as reported by myPerfectWeather).
Education and School Ratings
Winder is served by the Barrow County School District, which is rated as an above-average public school district in Georgia (according to Niche). The district has a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, with 35% of students proficient in math and 35% in reading, according to state test scores (as reported by Niche).
Top-ranked public schools in Winder include Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy, County Line Elementary School, and Holsenbeck Elementary School (as indicated by Niche and SchoolDigger.com). However, overall testing performance in Winder’s public schools shows lower proficiency rates in math and reading compared to the state averages, with an average school ranking in the bottom 50% of Georgia public schools (as reported by Niche).
Demographics and Population
Winder has a projected population of 21,739 in 2026, showing a consistent growth rate of 2.62% annually (as reported by Point2Homes). The city’s population as of the 2020 census was 18,338 (according to Wikipedia). The racial composition of Winder is diverse, with White residents making up approximately 55.2% of the population, followed by Black or African American residents at 19.1%, and Hispanic residents at 16.1% (according to US Census Bureau data and Data USA).
The median age in Winder is 35.9 years (as reported by Data USA and Point2Homes), with a slightly higher proportion of females to males. The majority of residents are U.S. citizens, with a foreign-born population making up about 10.6% of residents (as reported by Data USA).