City Report · MO

Manchester

Pop. 18,160·8th most expensive in Missouri·Manchester rents are up 53.6% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,805/mo
Year-over-Year
+53.6%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$127
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Manchester · $1,805
More affordable than 53% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
22% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,805/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$72,000/yr
Local median income
$97,801/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Manchester's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

1 BR
$1,171
2 BR
$1,362
3 BR
$1,716
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,362/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,805 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Missouri

Rent in Manchester changed +53.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($97,801) is $2,445 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,716).

Cheaper nearby

Valley Park, 3 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,567/mo), about $2,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Manchester. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$21,660/yr
At $1,805/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 53.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+53.6% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Manchester, MO is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 62.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,160
Median income
$97,801
Median age
38.2
Renters
25%
Age distribution
24.7%
21%
26.9%
16%
Under 1824.7%
18–3421%
35–5426.9%
55–6411.3%
65+16%
Gender
50%
50%
Male50%
Female50%
Race & ethnicity
72%
12.4%
White72%
Black3.7%
Hispanic5%
Asian12.4%
Other7%
Education (25+)
14.1%
21%
62.4%
No HS diploma2.4%
HS diploma14.1%
Some college21%
Bachelor's+62.4%
Housing tenure
75%
25%
Owner75%
Renter25%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Manchester, MO has changed in 5 years

Income
$82,875 → $97,801
up 18.0%
Population
18,308 → 18,160
down 0.8%
Renter share
26.3% → 25%
-1.3 pts
Bachelor's+
59.4% → 62.4%
+3.0 pts
Median age
37.5 → 38.2
+0.7 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $97,801 today, compared with $82,875 five years earlier. College-educated residents now make up 62.4% of adults here, versus 59.4% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Manchester

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View Manchester rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Manchester on your salary?

At $1,805/mo, how Manchester rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Manchester rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Manchester. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Manchester

About renting in Manchester, MO

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Manchester is $1,805/mo as of October 2026. a 2-bedroom runs $1,362/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,171/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,716/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($97,801/yr), Manchester ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 53.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Manchester?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,805/mo in Manchester. The local median household income is $97,801/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Manchester?

Rent in Manchester has risen 53.6% over the past year.

How does Manchester rent compare to other cities in Missouri?

Manchester is one of the pricier among Missouri cities for rent, ranking #8 of 76 tracked cities at $1,805/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Manchester changed +53.6%, against a typical +4.4% across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Manchester?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Manchester ($1,805/mo) include Creve Coeur ($1,456/mo), Valley Park ($1,567/mo), and Chesterfield ($1,680/mo).
Income Affordability
22%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,805/mo, rent takes ~22% of Manchester's median household income ($97,801/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Manchester 22%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–4.7%
Run the Manchester affordability calculator →
Compare

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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Manchester, MO

Recent submissions

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