What are the schools like in Manchester, MO?

Manchester is served primarily by PARKWAY C-2. The district operates 19 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Manchester?

The median household income in Manchester, MO is $89,153 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

What is the weather like in Manchester, MO?

Manchester has an average high temperature of 40.2°F in January and 88.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Manchester, MO affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Manchester is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $288,800 and the median rent is $1,214 per month.

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

Manchester has a violent crime rate of 44.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1300.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Manchester, MO a Good Place to Live?

Manchester is a small city of 18,240 in Missouri, with a median household income of $89,153 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Manchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, 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: 96.3

Manchester's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Manchester costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Manchester, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$288,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,214	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$89,153	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Manchester's violent crime rate is 44.7 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

44.7 /100k

Property Crime

1300.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Manchester is served primarily by PARKWAY C-2. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Manchester, MO	National Avg
School District	PARKWAY C-2	—
Elementary Schools	19	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	60.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Manchester sees average highs of 40.2°F in January and 88.8°F in July, with 44.9 inches of annual precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Manchester, MO
Average High — January	40.2°F
Average High — July	88.8°F
Annual Precipitation	44.9"
Annual Snowfall	10.2"

Demographics

Metric	Manchester, MO	National Avg
Population	18,240	—
Median Age	38.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.5%	18.9%
Asian	11.9%	6.3%
Under 18	24.6%	22.2%
65 and over	15.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Winchester, MO 1 mi Twin Oaks, MO 1 mi Valley Park, MO 2 mi Ballwin, MO 2 mi Des Peres, MO 3 mi

Manchester vs Other Cities

Manchester, MO vs Winchester, MO Manchester, MO vs Twin Oaks, MO Manchester, MO vs Valley Park, MO Manchester, MO vs Ballwin, MO Manchester, MO vs Des Peres, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester, MO affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Manchester roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $288,800 and median rent is $1,214/month.

What is the crime rate in Manchester, MO?

Manchester's violent crime rate is 44.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1300.8 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 PARKWAY C-2. The district has 19 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 60.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Manchester, MO a good place to live?

Manchester, MO has a population of 18,240, a median household income of $89,153, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. 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 40.2°F in January and 88.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.9 inches with about 10.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Manchester?

The population of Manchester, Missouri is 18,240 with a median age of 38.2. 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 96 (100 = US average), median home $288,800, median household income $89,153, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. 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.