Manchester is a small incorporated town in northeastern Carroll County, Maryland, United States, located just south of the Pennsylvania state line and north of Baltimore. As of the 2020 census, Manchester had a population of 5,408. Manchester was incorporated in 1833 and is the second oldest incorporated area in Carroll County after Westminster, which was incorporated in 1818. The town was originally formed as a part of Baltimore County, before the creation of Carroll County in 1837. It is governed by an elected mayor and an elected five-person town council. Manchester lies in the humid continental climate region, marked by cold and snowy winters but humid and hot summers. This climate is i…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Manchester ranks

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#1Highest graduation rate in MD #4Safest in MD #20Best schools in MD All MD rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code21102

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Manchester

Housing in Manchester

$462K▲ 0.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Manchester home is worth about $462,000, up 0.9% in a year, 8% above the Maryland typical home.

Only 4 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Manchester

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Manchester reports less crime per resident than 83% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Manchester 2.2

Maryland 3.7

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Manchester 1.7

Maryland 18.5

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Manchester

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Manchester for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Westminster (8%), Baltimore (7%) and Towson (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Westminster

Baltimore

Towson

Cockeysville

3%Work in townlive and work in Manchester 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 781Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Manchester →

Health in Manchester

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 78% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Maryland

10better than MD·4worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 2▼ 8 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 2▲ 1▼ 4 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.7%Fewer adults facing food insecurityMD 15.4% · better 5.2%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offMD 8.4% · better 9.4%More adults who have had cancerMD 7.6% · worse

Care nearby

Carroll Hospital CenterWestminster · 8.6 mi · ER

Hanover CenterHanover · 13.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Manchester · CMS · HRSAHealth in Manchester →

Natural hazards in Manchester

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 8% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind🌡️ Heat waves

0Does Manchester flood?no paid flood claims on record 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Manchester

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Manchester →

Climate in Manchester

Full climate →

Manchester has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

41° / 24°Winter

62° / 41°Spring

82° / 62°Summer

65° / 44°Fall

How much snow does Manchester get?About 34 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 25, with the last in spring around Apr 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Manchester →

Schools in Manchester

All Manchester schools →

A⁺

School Grade A+

The public schools Manchester’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 96% of Maryland’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#20Best public schoolsof 235 in MD

DistrictCarroll County Public SchoolsSchools4

Manchester Elementary B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 671 students Ebb Valley Elementary B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 563 students Grace Bible Christian Preschool & KindergartenElementary · Grades PK–K · 95 students Manchester Valley High A+High · Grades 9–12 · 1,339 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MD. Ratings are from neighbors.