CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

37.49° N · 77.54° W · GEOID 5148996

Manchester

Chesterfield County, Virginia · part of the Richmond, VA metro

VirginiaManchester, VAManchesterManchester

The short answer

Manchester is home to 12,445 people. Median household income is $80,296 a year and median rent is $1,558 a month, 23.3% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $317,000, about 4.0x annual median household income.

Manchester's housing market sets it apart. Owning with a mortgage costs only about $13 a month more than the median rent, a smaller gap than in 94% of places its size. Also notable: OpenStreetMap shows 2.4 parks per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 89% of places its size.

37OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Below average

Manchester scores better than 37% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 146th of 190 in Virginia.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%38
Economy 20%37
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%36
Education 10%65
Commute 10%70
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,558
14% above the median place
Median household income
$80,296
0% above the median place
Median home value
$317,000
1% below the median place
Unemployment
6.4%
32% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Manchester

  • Work and commuting21% of workers mostly work from home, more than in 81% of the 2,241 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Manchester

Chesterfield County gains about 5.9 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in21,702
Moved out19,789
Net+1,913

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Richmond city, VA4,3583,381+977
Henrico County, VA3,3542,297+1,057
Powhatan County, VA370718−348
Hanover County, VA350538−188
Prince George County, VA383452−69

Within Virginia, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within VirginiaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$75K
Leavers$69K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Chesterfield County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
9.8% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.1% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Chesterfield County report $74,800 a year in income on average; those leaving, $69,400, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$62,300 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,558 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,571 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $317,000.
Getting to work
22 minutes each way on average; 21.4% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
California, MD matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
9.8%
70% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people6
5.9
above the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6
$74,845
6% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureManchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year19.8%70% above
Moved from another state1County figure2.1%4% above
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure5.9above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6County figure$74,8456% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$69,4181% below
02

What it costs to live here

Renters paying 30%+ is 56.5%, 12% above the median place.

Manchester23.3%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$62,320
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
23.3%
14% above the median place
Home price to income
4.0x
4% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
23%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$62,800
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Manchester, $1,558 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.6 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Manchester, but easier on the budget

Places that match Manchester on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
California, MD9519.3% vs 23.3%$33,500Compare
Matawan, NJ9417.7% vs 23.3%$33,400Compare
Fort Mitchell, KY9314.4% vs 23.3%$13,000Compare
Horsham, PA9018.3% vs 23.3%$14,200Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Manchester.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Manchester? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
56.5%
12% above the median place
Homeownership1
59.6%
10% below the median place
Property tax rate1
0.7%
19% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureManchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,55814% above
Rent to income123.3%14% above
Property tax rate10.7%19% below
Home price to income14.0x4% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure97.93% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,6512% above
Property tax paid (median)1$2,34028% below
Median home value1$317,0001% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure2.8%13% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure57.0%11% above
Homeownership159.6%10% below
Renters paying 30%+156.5%12% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,57116% below
Vacant homes18.3%17% above
Median year built119830% above
03

Work and pay

Counting remote workers as zero, the average worker spends about 130 hours a year commuting, less than in 81% of the 2,241 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Works from home1
21.4%
72% above the median place
Unemployment1
6.4%
32% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Mean commute22 min −12%
Poverty rate12.7% +18%
Income per person$41,707 +4%
Median household income$80,296 +0%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureManchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$80,2960% above
Income per person1$41,7074% above
Unemployment16.4%32% above
Average annual pay5County figure$63,0574% below
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure0.6%84% below
Jobs5County figure148,6841% below
Poverty rate112.7%18% above
Mean commute122 min12% below
Works from home121.4%72% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

The median resident is 34.5 years old, younger than in 83% of the 2,300 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

No health insurance1
13.9%
117% above the median place
Median age1
34.5
12% below the median place
Household size1
2.3
7% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Bachelor's or higher39.7% +24%
High school or higher89.8% −3%
Homes with broadband93.2% +1%
Born abroad9.4% +6%
All 8 people measures
MeasureManchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population112,4453491st largest
Median age134.512% below
Bachelor's or higher139.7%24% above
High school or higher189.8%3% below
Household size12.37% below
Born abroad19.4%6% above
No health insurance113.9%117% above
Homes with broadband193.2%1% above
05

Life in Manchester

OpenStreetMap shows 0 libraries per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 86% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 195 Virginia places we track.

32 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents2.4 −76%
Playgrounds per 10k12.9 +37%
Grocery stores per 10k3.2 +51%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k10.4 −6%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −95%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.3 +62%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site 7 miles
  • Richmond National Battlefield Park 10 miles
  • Petersburg National Battlefield 21 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars15.9 −24%
Shops24.7 −18%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.1 −24%
Doctors' offices and clinics21.0 +4%
Child care centers2.0 −13%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site9
6.8
78% below the median place
Public school students11
64,194
above the median place (median 4,897)
Restaurants and bars per 10k7
15.9
24% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureManchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure75above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure64,194above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher11County figure14.09% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure15.924% below
Shops per 10k7County figure24.718% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure3.124% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure21.04% above
Child care centers per 10k7County figure2.013% below
Parks per 10k82.476% below
Playgrounds per 10k812.937% above
Grocery stores per 10k83.251% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k810.46% below
Libraries per 10k80.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails80.195% below
Transit stops per sq mi80.362% above
Nearest National Park Service site96.878% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles97250% above
National Register listings10County figure32146% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Median air quality index is 39, 9% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Manchester. Larger places are fetched first.

Median air quality index14
39
9% below the median place
Good air days14
80.8%
18% above the median place
Wildfire risk13
44.0
28% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureManchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure89°F3% above
January average low12County figure28°F11% above
Average temperature12County figure59°F7% above
Annual precipitation12County figure46.6 in6% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure84.88% below
Hurricane risk13County figure85.821% above
Tornado risk13County figure76.86% below
Wildfire risk13County figure44.028% below
Heat wave risk13County figure86.54% below
Median air quality index14County figure399% below
Good air days14County figure80.8%18% above
08

Manchester in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 24% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 23% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Manchester does better than 36% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 76%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,558/mo (2024)$2,000/mo$1,640 to $2,440/mo+4.2%
Median household income$80,296 (2024)$101,500$86,000 to $120,000+4.0%
Median home value$317,000 (2024)$463,000$336,000 to $638,000+6.5%

The median home would be worth 4.6 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.9 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Manchester

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Somers, WI$1,455$80,488Compare
Euless, TX$1,690$82,167Compare
Georgetown, GA$1,529$74,256Compare
Newnan, GA$1,542$82,292Compare
Newnan, GAGeorgetown, GAEuless, TXSomers, WIManchester, VAManchesterSomersEulessGeorgetownNewnanManchesterSomersEulessGeorgetownNewnan

Places built like Manchester

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Manchester performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Manchester, VA23.3%4.9%/yrn/a
Pike Creek Valley, DE20.5%6.5%/yrn/aCompare
California, MD19.3%7.2%/yrn/aCompare
Westminster, MD20.5%7.3%/yr2.2%Compare
Goldenrod, FL30.8%6.8%/yrn/aCompare
Temple Terrace, FL27.6%1.9%/yr1.4%Compare
Ashland, VA24.1%2.1%/yr5.1%Compare

Common questions

Is Manchester a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 37 out of 100, better than 37% of the places we rate and 146th of 190 in Virginia. 21% of workers mostly work from home, more than in 81% of the 2,241 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 21 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Manchester expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 23.3% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $317,000.

What salary do you need to live in Manchester?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $62,320 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Manchester?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Somers, WI, Euless, TX, Georgetown, GA and Newnan, GA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Manchester with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Manchester itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/manchester-virginia

Citytistics. “Manchester, Virginia.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/manchester-virginia/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.