Manitowoc is a small city of 34,500 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $60,040
and a 2.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Manitowoc 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 Manitowoc is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Manitowoc 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: 90.3
Manitowoc's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Manitowoc costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Manitowoc, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$134,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$743
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,040
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Manitowoc's violent crime rate is 208.4 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
208.4 /100k
Property Crime
969.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Manitowoc is served primarily by Manitowoc School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Manitowoc, WI
National Avg
School District
Manitowoc School District
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Manitowoc sees average highs of 26.5°F in January
and 76.9°F in July,
with 31.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.6 inches of snow per year.
Manitowoc's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Manitowoc roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $134,900 and median rent is $743/month.
Manitowoc's violent crime rate is 208.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 969.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Manitowoc are operated by Manitowoc School District.
The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Manitowoc, WI has a population of 34,500, a median household income of $60,040, 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.
Manitowoc averages 26.5°F in January and 76.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.4 inches
with about 34.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Manitowoc, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54220.
The population of Manitowoc, Wisconsin is 34,500 with a median age of 42.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Manitowoc: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $134,900, median household income $60,040, crime index 51 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Manitowoc side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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