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Moving to
Manchester.
Manchester is an unincorporated community in Richmond city, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Manchester
Manchester is an unincorporated community in Virginia with county unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, 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 a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
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
$3,116
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $62,320 a year
- 52% of Manchester renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$63,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,700
- Homes cost 3.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 10% above US
$1,558/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,558 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $317,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $317,000 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Richmond city is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Richmond city (county-wide)
Getting around▼ 16% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 10% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 40% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (2 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Manchester's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,558/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home) and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Manchester
All Virginia guides →Moving to Richmond →
2 mi away · pop. 229,359
Rent $1,372/mo · Income $64,587
Compare with Manchester →Moving to East Highland Park →
5 mi away · pop. 15,265
Rent $1,318/mo · Income $64,681
Compare with Manchester →Moving to Meadowbrook →
6 mi away · pop. 20,749
Rent $1,583/mo · Income $86,054
Compare with Manchester →Not sure Manchester is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.