The Town FilesManchester, Michigan
Township in Washtenaw County · population 4,626 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $273,600
- Household income
- $84,732
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 45.9
Manchester is a township of 4,626 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $273,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 97% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 94% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $273,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $84,732, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $928 a month. 86.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $273,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $928 | $955 |
| Median household income | $84,732 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.4% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 90 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 9, 2001.
Severe weather in Washtenaw County since 1996
Washtenaw County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County had 217,948 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Manchester
- Norvell, MI4.6 mi · 2,800 people · home $278,600
- Franklin, MI6.3 mi · 3,063 people · home $293,900
- Clinton, MI6.7 mi · 2,517 people · home $186,700
- Clinton, MI7.8 mi · 3,765 people · home $199,100
- Cambridge, MI8.8 mi · 5,722 people · home $275,700
- Tecumseh, MI10.4 mi · 8,680 people · home $216,700
- Columbia, MI10.5 mi · 7,392 people · home $276,700
- Grass Lake, MI10.8 mi · 6,069 people · home $297,300
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 94% of Michigan towns and quieter than 62%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $273,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,732, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $928 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 34.9 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)