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Living in Winchester, Connecticut

Winchester is a Litchfield County town in the Northwest Hills, named after Winchester, England when it incorporated in 1771. Its village of Winsted, built up around Highland Lake and the Still River, became a 19th-century manufacturing center known for clockmaking.

Winchester at a glance

Winchester's villages and zip codes

Winsted uses 06098 and Winchester Center uses 06094.

Winchester villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Winsted06098The town's main village and commercial center, along Main Street near the Still River.
Winchester Center06094A smaller village north of Winsted.

Winchester covers about 33.8 square miles and borders Norfolk, Colebrook, Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Torrington. It was incorporated in 1771.

Things to do in Winchester, CT

Start with Highland Lake and The Gilbert School, then 2 more below.

  1. Highland Lake

    A lake on the west side of Winsted used for swimming, boating and fishing, with a town beach.

    Seasonal

    Winsted

  2. The Gilbert School

    A private school founded through a local bequest that has served as Winchester's public high school under a long-standing town arrangement.

    Year-round

    Winsted

  3. Crystal Lake

    A smaller lake in Winchester used for fishing and boating.

    Seasonal

    Winchester

  4. Winsted Main Street

    The village's historic commercial street, lined with 19th-century storefronts from its mill and clockmaking era.

    FreeYear-round

    Main St, Winsted

A little history

Winchester incorporated in 1771 and took its name from Winchester, England.

Winsted grew as a 19th-century manufacturing village powered by the Still River, including clockmaking at the William L. Gilbert Clock Company.

St. Anthony School in Winsted operated continuously from 1865 until closing in 2020.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Winchester

Highland Lake and Crystal Lake give Winchester its main outdoor recreation, along with the Still River running through Winsted.

  • Highland LakeSwimming, boating and fishing, with a town beach.
  • Crystal LakeFishing and boating access.
  • Still RiverRuns through Winsted on its way to the Farmington River, used for fishing.

Where to eat in Winchester: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Winchester to try, including cafe and italian/pizza restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Winchester

Winsted's Main Street is walkable past its historic storefronts and the Gilbert School campus, but Winchester Center and the lake neighborhoods outside the village need a car.

Winsted

338 Main St, Winsted, CT 06098

Check any Winchester address

Drive times

  • Torrington, about 6 miles10–15 min
  • Bradley International Airport, about 35 miles45–50 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Northwestern Connecticut Transit District buses serve Winsted. Winchester has no passenger rail station; Routes 8 and 44 meet in Winsted.

Winchester property taxes and home prices

Winchester's 2026–27 mill rate is 30.00, which is $30.00 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $2,100 a year in taxes at 30.00 mills.

What homes in Winchester sell for

12 months endingSingle-familyCondo
Sep 2024$270,00092 sales$202,50012 sales
Sep 2025$307,000100 sales$196,00022 sales

October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.

Winchester's mill rate for 2026–27

30.00mills, fiscal year 2026–27

  • Town of Winchester30.00 mills
  • Motor vehicles30.00 mills
  • Next revaluationOctober 1, 2027

Winchester property tax calculator

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Assessed value (70%)
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Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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Estimate only; the assessor's appraisal sets the bill.

Using our mortgage calculator or affordability calculator? Enter about 2.10% for property tax. That's 30.00 mills on a 70% assessment.

How Winchester's mill rate has changed

Winchester town mill rate by fiscal year
Fiscal yearTown rate
2022–2333.54
2023–2426.39
2024–2527.24
2025–2629.17
2026–2730.00

Winchester's town rate went from 33.54 in 2022–23 to 30.00 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2027.

Look up a Winchester property

Buying a home in Winchester

What we check on a Winchester purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map and lake community.

CHFA

First-time buyer programs in Winchester

CHFA sets Winchester's income and price limits for Litchfield County. We check them with you before you shop.

See CHFA's limits map
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Still River runs through Winsted on its way to the Farmington River, and low ground along it has flooded historically. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Winchester
Lake community

Ask about lake association dues

Homes around Highland Lake and Crystal Lake may belong to a lake or beach association with its own dues and rules on docks or shared access. Ask about association fees before you make an offer.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Winchester?

Send us a Winchester address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Winchester: utilities, trash and town offices

Who to call in Winchester: Eversource for power.

Town offices and contacts

Winchester Town Hall is at 338 Main St, Winsted, CT 06098. Hours: Monday–Wednesday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Thursday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. Main line: (860) 379-2714. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.

Winchester, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services

The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.

What is the mill rate in Winchester, CT?

Winchester's 2026–27 mill rate is 30.00, which is $30.00 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is 30.00 mills.

How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Winchester?

Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 30.00 mills that's about $10,500 a year, or about $875 a month. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.

What is the median home price in Winchester, CT?

In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Winchester was $307,000 across 100 sales, compared with $270,000 the year before. The median condo sale was $196,000 across 22 sales.

When is Winchester's next revaluation?

Winchester's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2027, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2028.

What county is Winchester in?

Litchfield County, in the Northwest Hills.

What zip codes does Winchester use?

06098 for Winsted and 06094 for Winchester Center.

How far is Winchester from Torrington?

About 6 miles, roughly 10–15 minutes by car.

Is there train service near Winchester?

No; Winchester has no passenger rail station.

What are Winchester town hall hours?

Monday–Wednesday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Thursday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM.

What high school serves Winchester?

The Gilbert School, a private school that serves as the town's public high school for grades 7-12.

Towns near Winchester

Neighbors of Winchester in Litchfield County and nearby. All Litchfield County towns.

Sources