The Town FilesNorth Manchester, Indiana
Town in Wabash County · population 5,277 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,200
- Household income
- $61,296
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.4
North Manchester is a town of 5,277 people in Wabash County, Indiana. The median home is worth $138,200, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 99% of Indiana towns, hipper than 99% of Indiana towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Indiana
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Indiana
- #6 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Indiana
- #22 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Indiana
- #34 in The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
- #47 in The 50 Best College Places in America
How North Manchester ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Manchester is worth $138,200, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $61,296, which is more affordable than 64% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $660 a month. 79.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Manchester | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,200 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $660 | $888 |
| Median household income | $61,296 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 79.6% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Manchester
| People | North Manchester | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in North Manchester
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 41.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.3 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Manchester since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 27, 2019 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 9, 2003.
Severe weather in Wabash County since 1996
Wabash County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wabash County
Wabash County had 12,395 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in North Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in North Manchester
2 public schools with 1,113 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Jr-Sr High School | 7-12 | 666 | 14.8 |
| Manchester Elementary School | PK-3 | 447 | 14.9 |
Towns near North Manchester
- Wabash, IN14.2 mi · 10,440 people · home $116,500
- Winona Lake, IN14.8 mi · 5,053 people · home $274,500
- Huntington, IN16.5 mi · 17,022 people · home $119,500
- Warsaw, IN17.1 mi · 15,804 people · home $181,200
- Columbia City, IN19.0 mi · 9,892 people · home $189,100
- Rochester, IN22.4 mi · 6,270 people · home $137,400
- Peru, IN22.9 mi · 11,073 people · home $92,500
- Syracuse, IN28.9 mi · 3,079 people · home $199,400
North Manchester questions
Is North Manchester, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Manchester scores better for retirees than 97% of Indiana towns and quieter than 7%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in North Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in North Manchester is valued at $138,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,296, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $660 a month.
What is the weather like in North Manchester?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.1 inches of precipitation a year and 30.3 inches of snow.
Does North Manchester get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 27, 2019. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)