The Town FilesManchester, Georgia
City in Meriwether County · population 3,584 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $135,500
- Household income
- $51,353
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 35.4
Manchester is a city of 3,584 people in Meriwether County, Georgia. The median home is worth $135,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better transit than 85% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 82% of Georgia towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $135,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $51,353, which is more affordable than 78% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,038 a month. 47.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,038 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $51,353 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 47.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 32.1°F. About 51.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 5, 1954 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 15, 2011.
Severe weather in Meriwether County since 1996
Meriwether County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| January 16, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4685: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Meriwether County
Meriwether County had 4,842 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,384 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Manchester
3 public schools with 1,443 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View Elementary School | PK-5 | 706 | 13.8 |
| Manchester High School | 9-12 | 430 | 11.6 |
| Manchester Middle School | 6-9 | 307 | 15.4 |
Towns near Manchester
- Hannahs Mill, GA17.9 mi · 3,121 people · home $154,600
- Thomaston, GA18.0 mi · 9,816 people · home $211,000
- LaGrange, GA26.1 mi · 30,858 people · home $216,300
- Hogansville, GA26.4 mi · 3,267 people · home $182,400
- Columbus, GA27.9 mi · 206,922 people · home $193,900
- Grantville, GA28.5 mi · 3,103 people · home $198,700
- West Point, GA29.6 mi · 3,719 people · home $199,500
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 47% of Georgia towns and quieter than 56%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $135,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,353, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,038 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 32.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 5, 1954. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)