The Town FilesManchester, Maryland
Town in Carroll County · population 5,408 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $376,400
- Household income
- $121,676
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 39.9
Manchester is a town of 5,408 people in Carroll County, Maryland. The median home is worth $376,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for families than 95% of Maryland towns, easier by car than 93% of Maryland towns, quieter than 87% of Maryland towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $376,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $121,676, which is more affordable than 87% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,358 a month. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $376,400 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,358 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $121,676 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.0% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 94.3% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.1 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 24, 2001 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 10, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4170: Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 59,195 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,405 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 0.1%.
Public schools in Manchester
3 public schools with 2,608 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Valley High | 9-12 | 1,374 | 18.8 |
| Manchester Elementary | PK-5 | 663 | 16.6 |
| Ebb Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 571 | 15.9 |
Towns near Manchester
- Hampstead, MD3.2 mi · 6,241 people · home $333,000
- West Manheim, PA7.1 mi · 9,072 people · home $299,700
- Manheim, PA7.3 mi · 3,462 people · home $340,000
- Westminster, MD8.2 mi · 20,126 people · home $337,600
- Parkville, PA10.2 mi · 8,263 people · home $222,400
- Codorus, PA10.3 mi · 3,904 people · home $286,200
- Penn, PA10.9 mi · 17,487 people · home $240,500
- Shrewsbury, PA11.1 mi · 6,649 people · home $351,900
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 74% of Maryland towns and quieter than 87%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $376,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,676, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,358 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 34.1 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)