The Town FilesManchester, Virginia
Community in Chesterfield County · population 12,129 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $317,000
- Household income
- $80,296
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 34.5
Manchester is a community of 12,129 people in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The median home is worth $317,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 84% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Virginia towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $317,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $80,296, which is more affordable than 48% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,558 a month. 59.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $317,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,558 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $80,296 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.8°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.3 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 17, 2018 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 17, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 91 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 18, 2024.
Severe weather in Chesterfield County since 1996
Chesterfield County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
Jobs and pay in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County had 145,905 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,685 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Manchester
4 public schools with 3,740 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Middle | 6-8 | 1,111 | 13.9 |
| Providence Middle | 6-8 | 1,024 | 14.4 |
| J.A. Chalkley Elementary | PK-5 | 868 | 14.0 |
| A.M. Davis Elementary | PK-5 | 737 | 12.5 |
Towns near Manchester
- Bon Air, VA2.4 mi · 18,022 people · home $365,200
- Rockwood, VA2.5 mi · 8,685 people · home $354,400
- Richmond, VA4.7 mi · 226,610 people · home $353,000
- Meadowbrook, VA5.6 mi · 20,898 people · home $298,500
- Midlothian, VA5.8 mi · 18,320 people · home $408,500
- Bensley, VA6.1 mi · 5,971 people · home $218,500
- Brandermill, VA7.0 mi · 13,730 people · home $376,000
- Tuckahoe, VA7.2 mi · 48,051 people · home $462,800
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 11% of Virginia towns and quieter than 25%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $317,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,296, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,558 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 9.3 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 17, 2018. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)