The Town FilesManchester, Missouri
City in St. Louis County · population 18,333 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,100
- Household income
- $97,801
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 38.2
Manchester is a city of 18,333 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. The median home is worth $323,100, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 92% of Missouri towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $323,100, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $97,801, which is more affordable than 25% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,322 a month. 75.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,100 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,322 | $855 |
| Median household income | $97,801 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 75.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.9% | — |
| Work from home | 22.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 42.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on January 24, 1967 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 14 deaths and 411 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 251 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in St. Louis County since 1996
St. Louis County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4877: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| August 8, 2022 | Flood | DR-4665: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in St. Louis County
St. Louis County had 596,676 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,926 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Manchester
5 public schools with 3,255 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH HIGH | 9-12 | 1,524 | 14.8 |
| SOUTH MIDDLE | 6-8 | 520 | 11.8 |
| PIERREMONT ELEM. | K-5 | 483 | 13.8 |
| CARMAN TRAILS ELEM. | K-5 | 364 | 10.7 |
| BARRETTS ELEM. | K-5 | 364 | 13.5 |
Towns near Manchester
- Valley Park, MO2.4 mi · 6,885 people · home $251,000
- Ballwin, MO2.5 mi · 31,103 people · home $377,100
- Des Peres, MO3.5 mi · 9,193 people · home $609,200
- Town and Country, MO3.6 mi · 11,640 people · home $928,500
- Ellisville, MO4.4 mi · 9,985 people · home $366,600
- Kirkwood, MO4.6 mi · 29,461 people · home $451,400
- Fenton, MO4.8 mi · 3,989 people · home $374,500
- Clarkson Valley, MO5.5 mi · 2,609 people · home $867,000
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 61% of Missouri towns and quieter than 12%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $323,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,801, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,322 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on January 24, 1967. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)