The Town FilesManchester, Kentucky
City in Clay County · population 1,512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,500
- Household income
- $23,529
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 41.9
Manchester is a city of 1,512 people in Clay County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $140,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 80% of Kentucky towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $140,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $23,529, which is more affordable than 1% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $596 a month. 42.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $596 | $837 |
| Median household income | $23,529 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 42.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 41.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.7°F. About 51.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 4,077 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,485 a year. Unemployment was 6.4% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in Manchester
9 public schools with 2,687 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County High School | 9-12 | 756 | 15.1 |
| Manchester Elementary School | PK-6 | 413 | 14.2 |
| Clay County Middle School | 7-8 | 396 | 11.6 |
| Burning Springs Elementary | PK-6 | 305 | 13.9 |
| Hacker Elementary School | PK-6 | 273 | 13.0 |
| Paces Creek Elementary | K-6 | 267 | 13.4 |
| Goose Rock Elementary | PK-6 | 224 | 11.2 |
| Horse Creek Learning Center | 3-12 | 53 | 10.6 |
| Clay County Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Manchester
- Annville, KY16.8 mi · 1,102 people · home $86,600
- London, KY17.4 mi · 7,572 people · home $170,200
- East Bernstadt, KY20.4 mi · 809 people · home $91,900
- Barbourville, KY20.6 mi · 3,222 people · home $182,400
- Flat Lick, KY21.7 mi · 850 people · home $9,999
- North Corbin, KY22.2 mi · 1,727 people · home $157,700
- McKee, KY23.0 mi · 803 people · home $112,800
- Corbin, KY23.9 mi · 7,856 people · home $166,000
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 29% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 80%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $140,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $23,529, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $596 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 3, 1974. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)