The Town FilesManning, Iowa
City in Carroll County · population 1,455 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,500
- Household income
- $72,831
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.2
Manning is a city of 1,455 people in Carroll County, Iowa. The median home is worth $120,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 98% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 93% of Iowa towns, hipper than 76% of Iowa towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
- #8 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Iowa
- #14 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Iowa With Mild Winters
- #31 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #31 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
How Manning 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 Manning is worth $120,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $72,831, which is more affordable than 88% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $719 a month. 85.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manning | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $719 | $820 |
| Median household income | $72,831 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manning
| People | Manning | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Manning
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.3°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manning since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 26, 2024 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 22, 2004.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1877: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 10,978 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,662 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Manning itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Manning
2 public schools with 484 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| IKM-Manning Middle School | 4-8 | 289 | 22.2 |
| IKM-Manning High School | 9-12 | 195 | 9.8 |
Towns near Manning
- Manilla, IA8.8 mi · 775 people · home $88,300
- Arcadia, IA12.2 mi · 525 people · home $141,100
- Audubon, IA15.0 mi · 2,053 people · home $97,700
- Carroll, IA15.1 mi · 10,321 people · home $188,700
- Denison, IA16.5 mi · 8,373 people · home $150,200
- Breda, IA19.5 mi · 500 people · home $144,600
- Coon Rapids, IA20.0 mi · 1,300 people · home $134,100
- Glidden, IA20.1 mi · 1,151 people · home $154,200
Manning questions
Is Manning, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manning scores better for retirees than 93% of Iowa towns and quieter than 98%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Manning?
The median owner-occupied home in Manning is valued at $120,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,831, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $719 a month.
What is the weather like in Manning?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.7 inches of precipitation a year and 33.2 inches of snow.
Does Manning get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manning since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 26, 2024. 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)