The Town FilesManchester, Iowa
City in Delaware County · population 5,065 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,400
- Household income
- $61,191
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 49.1
Manchester is a city of 5,065 people in Delaware County, Iowa. The median home is worth $139,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 88% of Iowa towns, hipper than 88% of Iowa towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $139,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $61,191, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $802 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $802 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,191 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 12, 1974 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Delaware County since 1996
Delaware County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 31, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4135: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Delaware County
Delaware County had 6,669 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,287 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Manchester
3 public schools with 1,303 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Delaware High School | 9-12 | 466 | 13.3 |
| Lambert Elementary School | PK-4 | 465 | 13.3 |
| West Delaware Middle School | 5-8 | 372 | 12.4 |
Towns near Manchester
- Dyersville, IA17.3 mi · 4,477 people · home $234,100
- Monticello, IA22.4 mi · 4,040 people · home $175,200
- Independence, IA22.8 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Oelwein, IA26.6 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
- Center Point, IA26.6 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
- Anamosa, IA27.6 mi · 5,450 people · home $172,600
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 20% of Iowa towns and quieter than 33%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $139,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,191, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $802 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 34.7 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 12, 1974. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)