Windsor offers the stunning beauty of the wine country but with fewer tourists and a more relaxed vibe than the wine country cities of Napa or Sonoma. The town is most notable for its utterly charming Old Downtown which is filled with excellent restaurants, cafes, and local boutiques that surround the Windsor Town Green public park - where year-round music, farmers’ markets, and festivals are held.  It also has plenty of local breweries and vineyards where locals and visitors hang together. You also get a wonderful farm-to-table foodie scene owing to the region’s rich agricultural output. 

Costs for homes in Windsor are an issue since you’re getting pretty far north of the tech scene for the prices for homes to be ~$850k. Windsor is less of a second home city for the wealthy, like Healdsburg or Guerneville, so the locals tend to be genuine, and that housing price can be a tough pill to swallow. The cost of living in general is also pricey in the area but given you’re likely considering different Marin or Sonoma county cities this will likely be no shock. 

Charm

LookyLOO Review of Windsor

The Town Green, in the center of Old Downtown, is a big driver of the community lifestyle in Windsor. It serves as the year-round center of city activities with farmers’ markets, festivals, and city celebrations, and most notably, plays host to the Annual Summer Night on the Green Concerts. There are also plenty of parks, great schools, and the amazing Sonoma County outdoors to keep the most active families busy. 

To see what locals get up to for fun in Windsor check out the [calendar of events](https://www.townofwindsor.ca.gov/338/Special-Events).

We highly recommend visiting Windsor and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle

Plenty of people live in Windsor and commute to Santa Rosa or other Sonoma County jobs but if you want to live and work here then you’ll probably work in the wine production or general agricultural/farming industries. You could also find a gig in the growing hospitality and tourism industry. Much to the chagrin of some locals Windsor has been growing its tourism biz and so job opportunities in service are on the rise. 

Worklife

While other Sonoma cities have exploded in popularity and tourism Windsor remains a bit off the radar. There is some desire among more growth-minded locals to spike the size of the local and tourist community and so if you want to get in on an amazing city before it is untouchable then make your move now. 

Before The Rise

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**CaliforniaHumboldt**
9mo ago
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I love Windsor. It's a safe area and is very family friendly when it comes time for you guys to have kids. If you live within walking distance to the Town Green you can walk to the Town Green where events are held. If you live within walking distance of Foothill Regional Park, you can walk on the many trails that they have there.

For more reviews of what living in Windsor is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/windsor/reviews).

Reviews of Windsor from Locals

While Windsor is a small town, the energy of Downtown/Town Green Village draws young professionals that choose to live north of Santa Rosa as well as empty nesters and retirees who want to live in a beautiful, albeit small downtown with lots happening to keep them entertained. There are single family homes in the area but also plenty of condos and apartments for those looking to rent or downsize. As was noted there is a never-ending series of events happening in the Town Green and plenty of good restaurants, bars and boutique shopping to keep you occupied. 


Young Professionals/Empty Nesters/Retirees

Downtown/Town Green Village

If you’re craving a family-focused gated community kind of experience then check out Lakewood Hills. You get beautiful single-family homes, tree-lined streets with big yards, walking paths, tennis courts, a swim center and fishing and water sports on two private lakes. It’s also located on the western side of the city so you have easy access to towns like Guerneville and even better, the Pacific Ocean. 

Families

Lakewood Hills

East Windsor is a mix of families, professionals and retirees. Single-family homes at slightly better prices than other Windsor neighborhoods, townhomes and condo/apartment options means families, and SINKs/DINKs can all find a place to live here. You get a break from the energy of Old Downtown here if you want a bit quieter of a pace but there's plenty of parks like Lakewood Meadows, Pleasant Oak, and Robbins means there is tons of room for the kiddos to run, bike and play. East Windsor also has its own commercial options for dining and shopping and excellent public schools so families love the neighborhood.

Families/DINKs/SINKs

East Windsor

Windsor

**minideadpool49**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’ve lived in windsor for 20 years and this statement isn’t true. We have a fair amount of Hispanic population that’s been here for decades. There is a lot of cool events on the town green especially in the summer months. They do movie nights, and have bands that play on Thursday and a Sunday morning market on the green. Hiking in the foothills is nice and attracts a lot of regulars.

Never had issue with maga folk and I’ve lived on both sides of the highway during my time here. I love windsor.

**CaliforniaHumboldt**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉


I love Windsor. It's a safe area and is very family friendly when it comes time for you guys to have kids. If you live within walking distance to the Town Green you can walk to the Town Green where events are held. If you live within walking distance of Foothill Regional Park, you can walk on the many trails that they have there.

**Living In Windsor Ca - Everything You Need To Know (VLOG TOUR)**

**Rdubya87**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I feel like nearly all of eastern SR is worth considering at your price point. I'm sure there are great neighborhoods in Western SR but I'll let people who live there comment on it. I like the hidden valley/summerfield/spring lake/Montgomery village areas with that price point. Nice neighborhoods along Yulupa as you get past whole foods.

Seconded on the home insurance/wildfire risk consideration. Our insurance has gone up like 20% but happy to still have insurance.

My family lives in Windsor - having the town green is nice and there are some nice parks but I find there to be almost no value in real estate. For $900k I imagine you will get a tiny lot with a 90's builder quality home. I feel like real estate prices are out of whack with what it offers.

Windsor, California

Pony Express

Looklyloo Score: 90

Reviews

What's it like to live in Windsor?