What it's like to live in Manchester
Manchester is a small city in Missouri with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Manchester deals with cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Cold winters
How Manchester compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Manchester
Based on Manchester's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,644
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,880 a year
- 39% of Manchester renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$64,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $32,310
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,322/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,322 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $323,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $323,100 · 39% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in St. Louis County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
St. Louis County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 85% below US
50 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1228/100k · Manchester Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 73% above US
62% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (9 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Manchester's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoff is cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,322/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Manchester
All Missouri guides →Moving to Kirkwood →
5 mi away · pop. 29,363
Rent $1,348/mo · Income $121,270
Compare with Manchester →Moving to Creve Coeur →
6 mi away · pop. 18,643
Rent $1,622/mo · Income $127,188
Compare with Manchester →Not sure Manchester is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.