What it's like to live in Windsor

Windsor and Maidenhead is a borough of owner occupiers. Across the council area, 66.2% of homes are owned and 20.6% are privately rented, leaving 12.6% social rented, below the England figure of 17.1%. Most of that social housing is held by housing associations (11.4%) rather than the council (1.2%), so your landlord here is far more likely to be an association.

The largest social landlords in the area are Housing Solutions with around 3,581 homes and Abri Group with 3,294, followed by The Riverside Group, Metropolitan Housing Trust and A2Dominion South. Average weekly social rents for 2024/25 were £128 for a one bed, £147 for two and £168 for three.

The age profile is fairly typical, with slightly more residents aged 45 to 64 (27.9%) than nationally. Around 18.5% are 65 or over. The council's housing register held 823 households at the end of March 2025, which is a reminder that mutual exchange is often the realistic route into the area.

Families have plenty of schools nearby. First and primary options within walking distance include The Queen Anne Royal Free CofE Controlled First School and Trinity St Stephen CofE Aided First School, both about a third of a mile out, with Oakfield First School and Eton Porny CofE First School under a mile. Upton House School is the closest of all. Some local schools are independent, so check which are state funded before you plan.

For older children, The Windsor Boys' School is half a mile away, with St George's School, The King's House School, The Green Room School and Queensmead House School also within a mile.

Outside school, Bachelors Acre is the nearest green space for a quick run-around, and Home Park Public and Imperial Park give more room. Windsor Library is central and Dedworth Library covers the west side. The Little Gym and Wren's Club are close for activities, and community centres in New Windsor, Old Windsor and Eton Wick host local groups. Across the council area, 19.2% of residents are under 16, slightly above the England figure.

Windsor has two railway stations, which is unusual for a town this size. Windsor and Eton Central is a couple of minutes from the town centre, and Windsor and Eton Riverside is about half a mile away. Datchet station is roughly a mile and a half out, handy if you settle on that side. Between them they open up Slough, Staines and London.

Buses run within the town and out to Slough, where Wellington Street is the main stop; note that Slough's old bus station is closed. If you do not drive, the town centre, schools, parks and both hospitals are all within a mile or so of the middle, which makes walking genuinely practical here.

By car, you are close to Slough and the wider motorway network, and Maidenhead is a straightforward drive. Parking in the centre can be tight, especially when visitor numbers are high, so check what comes with any home you are considering before you commit to a swap.

Green space is one of Windsor's strong points. Home Park Public gives you a proper open walk near the Thames, while Bachelors Acre, Osbourne Road, Imperial Park and Wood Close are all small, local and easy to reach on foot.

The town centre has a good run of pubs and bars within a few minutes of each other, including the Acre, A Hoppy Place, The Piper, The Queen Victoria and The Prince Arthur. It makes for an easy evening out without needing transport. For bigger shopping trips, the Observatory Shopping Centre in Slough is a little over two miles away.

For exercise, there is The Little Gym and Wren's Club in town, with easyGym, Activ8 Gym and Leaf Leisure within a few miles. Windsor Library and the Chapter Archives and Library are both central, and the curve in Slough is about two miles out. Cinema options are limited locally, with the nearest listed screen around two miles away.

Figures here are for the wider Windsor and Maidenhead council area rather than the town alone, but they paint a strong picture. 61.7% of adults are in work, above the England average of 57.4%, and unemployment sits at 3.1% against 3.5% nationally.

Benefit claims tell the same story. In August 2026, 2.5% of 16 to 64 year olds in the borough were claiming unemployment-related benefits, compared with 4% across England. That suggests a steady local job market rather than one dependent on a single employer.

In practice, many residents commute. Windsor's two stations and the short hop to Slough mean you can work locally, in nearby towns or in London without moving again. Hospitality, retail and visitor services are visible in the town centre, and the two local hospitals are significant presences. If you are weighing up a swap, think about travel time and cost to your workplace as much as the home itself.