The Town FilesManly, Iowa
City in Worth County · population 1,256 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,300
- Household income
- $72,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.0
Manly is a city of 1,256 people in Worth County, Iowa. The median home is worth $120,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Manly 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 Manly is worth $120,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $72,813, which is more affordable than 88% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $756 a month. 64.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manly | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $756 | $820 |
| Median household income | $72,813 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manly
| People | Manly | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Manly
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manly since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1967 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 18, 1974.
Severe weather in Worth County since 1996
Worth County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Worth County
Worth County had 2,302 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,458 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Manly itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Manly
2 public schools with 368 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Springs High School | 9-12 | 233 | 14.6 |
| Central Springs Elementary Manly Campus | PK-3 | 135 | 15.0 |
Towns near Manly
- Mason City, IA9.7 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
- Northwood, IA10.8 mi · 2,072 people · home $130,300
- Clear Lake, IA13.7 mi · 7,687 people · home $259,500
- Nora Springs, IA13.9 mi · 1,369 people · home $134,500
- St. Ansgar, IA15.6 mi · 1,160 people · home $152,500
- Ventura, IA17.3 mi · 711 people · home $389,500
- Lake Mills, IA18.9 mi · 2,143 people · home $122,600
- Osage, IA19.6 mi · 3,627 people · home $160,700
Manly questions
Is Manly, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manly scores better for retirees than 67% of Iowa towns and quieter than 58%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Manly?
The median owner-occupied home in Manly is valued at $120,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,813, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $756 a month.
What is the weather like in Manly?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does Manly get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manly since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1967. 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)