The Town FilesManawa, Wisconsin
City in Waupaca County · population 1,441 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,400
- Household income
- $88,393
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 44.6
Manawa is a city of 1,441 people in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $159,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 88% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 71% of Wisconsin towns.
How Manawa ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manawa is worth $159,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $88,393, which is more affordable than 98% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $819 a month. 61.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manawa | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $819 | $951 |
| Median household income | $88,393 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 61.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manawa
| People | Manawa | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Manawa
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manawa since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 1991.
Severe weather in Waupaca County since 1996
Waupaca County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Waupaca County
Waupaca County had 18,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,246 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Manawa itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Manawa
3 public schools with 505 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manawa Elementary | PK-5 | 199 | 10.5 |
| Little Wolf High | 9-12 | 193 | 12.9 |
| Manawa Middle | 6-8 | 113 | 12.6 |
Towns near Manawa
- Little Wolf, WI2.1 mi · 1,400 people · home $243,100
- Union, WI6.1 mi · 778 people · home $280,600
- St. Lawrence, WI6.4 mi · 714 people · home $231,800
- Royalton, WI6.5 mi · 1,359 people · home $258,500
- Lebanon, WI6.6 mi · 1,619 people · home $238,500
- Waupaca, WI7.8 mi · 1,194 people · home $247,100
- Helvetia, WI7.9 mi · 701 people · home $186,400
- Bear Creek, WI8.6 mi · 748 people · home $256,000
Manawa questions
Is Manawa, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manawa scores better for retirees than 44% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 71%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Manawa?
The median owner-occupied home in Manawa is valued at $159,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,393, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $819 a month.
What is the weather like in Manawa?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.6 inches of snow.
Does Manawa get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manawa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)