What are the schools like in Manchester, MD?

Manchester is served primarily by Carroll County Public Schools. The district operates 23 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 11 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Manchester?

The median household income in Manchester, MD is $103,629 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.9%.

What is the weather like in Manchester, MD?

Manchester has an average high temperature of 39.5°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Manchester, MD affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Manchester is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $345,400 and the median rent is $1,183 per month.

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

Manchester has a violent crime rate of 179.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 107.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Manchester, MD a Good Place to Live?

Manchester is a small town of 5,403 in Maryland, with a median household income of $103,629 and a 0.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Manchester stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. 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: 102.7

Manchester's overall cost of living index is 102.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Manchester costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Manchester, MD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$345,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,183	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$103,629	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Manchester's violent crime rate is 179.6 per 100,000 residents — 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

179.6 /100k

Property Crime

107.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Manchester is served primarily by Carroll County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Manchester, MD	National Avg
School District	Carroll County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	23	—
Middle Schools	9	—
High Schools	11	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Manchester sees average highs of 39.5°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 47.9 inches of annual precipitation and 34.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Manchester, MD
Average High — January	39.5°F
Average High — July	84.9°F
Annual Precipitation	47.9"
Annual Snowfall	34.1"

Demographics

Metric	Manchester, MD	National Avg
Population	5,403	—
Median Age	42.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	34.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	20.9%	22.2%
65 and over	19.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hampstead, MD 3 mi Westminster, MD 8 mi Parkville, PA 10 mi Pennville, PA 11 mi Jefferson borough (York County), PA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Manchester

Manchester, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

21102

Manchester vs Other Cities

Manchester, MD vs Hampstead, MD Manchester, MD vs Westminster, MD Manchester, MD vs Parkville, PA Manchester, MD vs Pennville, PA Manchester, MD vs Jefferson borough (York County), PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester, MD affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Manchester roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $345,400 and median rent is $1,183/month.

What is the crime rate in Manchester, MD?

Manchester's violent crime rate is 179.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 107.8 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 Carroll County Public Schools. The district has 23 elementary, 9 middle, and 11 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 35.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Manchester, MD a good place to live?

Manchester, MD has a population of 5,403, a median household income of $103,629, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%. 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 39.5°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.9 inches with about 34.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Manchester?

Manchester, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 21102.

What is the population of Manchester?

The population of Manchester, Maryland is 5,403 with a median age of 42.8. 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 103 (100 = US average), median home $345,400, median household income $103,629, crime index 30 (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.