Is Manchester, CA a Good Place to Live?
Manchester is a small town of 298 in California, with a median household income of $58,342 and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Strengths: Manchester stands out for solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Manchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Manchester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Manchester metro area.
| Metric | Manchester, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $333,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | N/A | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.8% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $58,342 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeManchester's violent crime rate is 166.0 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Manchester is served primarily by Manchester Union Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Manchester, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Manchester Union Elementary | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 8.5:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 3.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 62.4% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Manchester sees average highs of 58.3°F in January and 94.0°F in July, with 42.3 inches of annual precipitation and 2.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Manchester, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 58.3°F |
| Average High — July | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | Manchester, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 298 | — |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 13.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 43.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 52.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 8.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Manchester
Manchester, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: