What are the schools like in Manchester, IA?

Manchester is served primarily by West Delaware County Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Manchester?

The median household income in Manchester, IA is $57,969 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

What is the weather like in Manchester, IA?

Manchester has an average high temperature of 26.1°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.7 inches.

Manchester, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Manchester, IA affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Manchester is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $111,300 and the median rent is $758 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Manchester, IA?

Manchester has a violent crime rate of 132.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1114.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Manchester, IA a Good Place to Live?

Manchester is a small town of 5,112 in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,969 and a 2.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Manchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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

Index: 88.6

Manchester's overall cost of living index is 88.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Manchester costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Manchester, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$111,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$758	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,969	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Manchester's violent crime rate is 132.2 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

132.2 /100k

Property Crime

1114.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Manchester is served primarily by West Delaware County Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Manchester, IA	National Avg
School District	West Delaware County Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Manchester sees average highs of 26.1°F in January and 82.1°F in July, with 38.6 inches of annual precipitation and 34.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Manchester, IA
Average High — January	26.1°F
Average High — July	82.1°F
Annual Precipitation	38.6"
Annual Snowfall	34.7"

Demographics

Metric	Manchester, IA	National Avg
Population	5,112	—
Median Age	49.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.9%	22.2%
65 and over	27.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Delaware, IA 6 mi Masonville, IA 7 mi Delhi, IA 8 mi Dundee, IA 8 mi Greeley, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Manchester

Manchester, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52057

Manchester vs Other Cities

Manchester, IA vs Delaware, IA Manchester, IA vs Masonville, IA Manchester, IA vs Delhi, IA Manchester, IA vs Dundee, IA Manchester, IA vs Greeley, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester, IA affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Manchester roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $111,300 and median rent is $758/month.

What is the crime rate in Manchester, IA?

Manchester's violent crime rate is 132.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1114.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Manchester?

Public schools in Manchester are operated by West Delaware County Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Manchester, IA a good place to live?

Manchester, IA has a population of 5,112, a median household income of $57,969, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Manchester?

Manchester averages 26.1°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.6 inches with about 34.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Manchester?

Manchester, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52057.

What is the population of Manchester?

The population of Manchester, Iowa is 5,112 with a median age of 49.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Manchester?

Key numbers for living in Manchester: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $111,300, median household income $57,969, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Manchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.