Windsor
A Family-Friendly Town in the Heart of Wine Country
A Family-Friendly Town in the Heart of Wine Country
Windsor is a small town of about 26,000 people in Sonoma County, sitting 9 miles north of Santa Rosa and 63 miles north of San Francisco. It's the kind of place where 50 wineries operate within a 5-mile radius, the town shuttle is free, and the local government schedules 30+ free events on the Town Green every year. Windsor runs on a suburban rhythm with a wine country backdrop: high homeownership, above-average schools, and a median household income north of $130,000. If you want the Sonoma County lifestyle without the traffic and expense of a bigger city, Windsor is worth a serious look.
Windsor is compact, but its neighborhoods have distinct personalities depending on what you're looking for.
A well-established neighborhood with tree-lined streets and proximity to Shiloh Ranch Regional Park. Good for families and anyone who wants mature landscaping and a settled community feel.
A gated community built in the 1980s with private lakes and generous lot sizes. This is the luxury tier in Windsor, with manicured grounds and a quieter, more secluded atmosphere.
A more modern development with spacious homes and an upscale suburban feel. Newer construction, well-maintained common areas, and a polished look throughout.
On Windsor's eastern edge, this area has a more rural character. Homes sit among rolling hills and oak woodlands. You're trading sidewalks and streetlights for open space and ridge-top views.
The walkable center of Windsor. Victorian-style buildings house restaurants, tasting rooms, and small shops around the Town Green. If you want to be close to the action (such as it is in a town of 26,000), this is your spot.
Windsor's dining scene is smaller than Santa Rosa's but punches well for a town its size. You'll find everything from wine country cuisine to comfort food and solid international options.
| Restaurant | What to Know |
|---|---|
| KIN Windsor | Located on the Town Green. Fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared as modern comfort food. A local favorite. |
| Sweet T's Restaurant + Bar | Operating since 2011. Elevated southern comfort food with Memphis-style BBQ. The atmosphere is polished but not stuffy. |
| GRATA Italian Eatery | Solid Italian with a wine country sensibility. |
| Himalayan Restaurant | Authentic Nepalese and Indian cuisine. One of the more unexpected finds in town. |
| Barley & Bine Beer Cafe | A beer garden and taproom with a good food menu. Good for casual afternoons. |
Windsor hosts a seasonal farmers market on the Town Green with local produce, baked goods, and artisan items. The town's proximity to working vineyards and farms means restaurants here have access to the same high-quality ingredients as the bigger cities in the county.
Tip: Oliver's Market, just north of the Town Green, is a locally owned upscale supermarket worth visiting. It stocks local wines, meats, and produce that you won't find at chain grocery stores.
Windsor maintains 19 parks with playgrounds, sports fields, walking trails, and picnic areas. The standout is easy access to Sonoma County's regional park system.
| Park/Trail | Details |
|---|---|
| Foothill Regional Park | 211 acres of oak woodlands with 6.8 miles of trails ranging from easy lakeside walks to challenging ridge routes. Three ponds stocked with bass and bluegill. Spring wildflowers are exceptional. |
| Keiser Park | 27 acres in the heart of town. Oak-shaded picnic areas, a performance stage, pump track, basketball courts, baseball fields, dog park, and playground. Windsor's all-purpose community park. |
| Hiram Lewis Park | Pickleball courts, baseball field, and a paved perimeter path that connects to the Windsor Creek Trail. |
| Windsor Town Green | 4.2 acres of green space with pathways, seating areas, and a full events calendar. More social hub than recreation, but ideal for a midday walk or bringing kids to run around. |
Foothill Regional Park is the local go-to, but you're also close to Spring Lake and Hood Mountain (in Santa Rosa) and Fitch Mountain (in Healdsburg). AllTrails lists 5+ trails directly in Windsor and many more within a short drive.
Tip: The Three Lakes Trail at Foothill Regional Park is flat and easy, making it a good option for families with young kids or anyone looking for a relaxed walk with water views.
This is one of Windsor's biggest draws. You can reach premium wine regions without getting on the highway.
| Winery | Known For |
|---|---|
| Bricoleur Vineyards | Beautiful estate with gardens, culinary experiences, and seated tastings. |
| La Crema Estate at Saralee's Vineyard | Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a gorgeous setting. |
| Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens | One of the most recognized names in California wine. Gardens and food pairings available. |
| Martinelli Winery & Vineyards | Family-owned since 1887. Known for Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. |
| Windsor Oaks Vineyards | Local estate with a relaxed, community feel. |
| Mutt Lynch Winery | Dog-themed tasting room with personality. Not your typical wine experience. |
Several tasting rooms also operate right around the Town Green, making it possible to walk between them without driving.
Windsor's event calendar is surprisingly full for its size, centered on the Town Green:
Key Takeaway: The Town Green is Windsor's social engine. If you live here, you'll end up there regularly, whether for a planned event or just a weekend walk.
Windsor shares the same Mediterranean climate as the rest of Sonoma County: dry, warm summers and cool, wet winters.
| Season | Average High | Average Low | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 56–58°F | 40–41°F | The wettest months. December averages 14 rainy days. Bring a good rain jacket. |
| Spring | 68–72°F | 43–46°F | Green hills, wildflowers, and comfortable temperatures. |
| Summer | 80–84°F | 52–54°F | Warm days, cool nights. Almost zero rain from June through September. |
| Fall | 72–76°F | 46–50°F | Harvest season. Still pleasant, with first rains arriving in late October or November. |
Temperatures rarely drop below 28°F or climb above 96°F. The temperature swing between day and night is significant in summer (expect 30-degree differences), so keep a jacket handy even in July.
Highway 101 runs right through town, giving you a straight shot north to Healdsburg and south to Santa Rosa and beyond. San Francisco is about 63 miles south.
Windsor was recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2015. Bike lanes, trails, and flat terrain make cycling practical for errands and recreation.
| Destination | Distance | Approximate Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa | 9 miles | 15 minutes |
| Healdsburg | 10 miles | 15 minutes |
| San Francisco | 63 miles | 1–1.5 hours |
| Oakland | 70 miles | 1–1.5 hours |
Tip: Highway 101 now has 52 continuous miles of carpool lanes from Marin to Windsor. HOV hours are 6–9 AM and 3–6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Carpooling or using clean-air vehicle stickers can save significant commute time.
Windsor's retail scene is more intimate than what you'd find in Santa Rosa, but it covers the essentials and adds local character.
Small, independently owned shops surround the Town Green in Victorian-style buildings. Expect boutiques, wine-related retail, and locally made goods. This is where you browse, not bulk-buy.
An upscale shopping center near downtown with a curated selection of restaurants and retailers.
Larger-format retail lives on the east side: Walmart, Home Depot, and Grocery Outlet anchor a shopping center near the Shiloh Road exit. Lakewood Shopping Center and Lakewood Village add more options.
Worth calling out separately. This locally owned supermarket just north of the Town Green is a community institution. Local wine, specialty meats, prepared foods, and hard-to-find ingredients.
Windsor is 63 miles north of San Francisco. The drive takes 1 to 1.5 hours via Highway 101 depending on traffic. SMART train service now connects Windsor to Marin County, and Sonoma County Transit links to Santa Rosa for additional connections.
A 4.2-acre public green space in the center of town that serves as Windsor's social hub. It hosts 30+ free events per year including summer concerts (every Thursday since 2001), outdoor movies, farmers markets, festivals, and art fairs.
Yes. Windsor has above-average public schools through the Windsor Unified School District, 19 parks with playgrounds and sports facilities, family-oriented community events throughout the year, and a low poverty rate (under 6%). The homeownership rate above 75% keeps neighborhoods stable.
Yes. The Windsor Shuttle (Route 66) is free for all riders and operates on weekdays and Saturdays. Sonoma County Transit Route 60 connects Windsor to Healdsburg and Santa Rosa. SMART train service began in Windsor in May 2025, providing rail access south through Sonoma and Marin counties.
Over 50 wineries operate within 5 miles of town. Notable names include Bricoleur Vineyards, La Crema Estate, Kendall-Jackson, and Martinelli. Windsor sits at the intersection of the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley wine regions. Several tasting rooms are also walkable from the Town Green.
Windsor has 19 parks and access to Foothill Regional Park (211 acres, 6.8 miles of trails). Keiser Park offers 27 acres of sports fields, a pump track, dog park, and picnic areas. Hiking, biking, fishing, and trail running are all accessible within town limits or a short drive.
Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers (highs in the low 80s°F) and cool, wet winters (highs in the mid-to-upper 50s°F). Summer nights cool down into the low 50s, so you'll want a layer even in August. Most rain falls between November and April, with almost no precipitation in summer.
Windsor is much smaller (26,000 vs. 178,000 residents) and has a quieter, more suburban feel. It has fewer restaurants and shops but stronger community cohesion and closer proximity to wineries. Windsor is more affordable on some measures and offers a true small-town lifestyle, while Santa Rosa provides more urban amenities. The two cities are only 9 miles apart, so Windsor residents regularly use Santa Rosa's offerings.
27,455 people live in Windsor, where the median age is 42.4 and the average individual income is $55,651. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Windsor has 9,643 households, with an average household size of 2.83. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Windsor do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 27,455 people call Windsor home. The population density is 1,387.49 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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