Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Manchester’s median age is 62.8 years, above both the Vermont town median (43.7 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). Among 72 Vermont towns, just 5 have a lower share of households owning their home than Manchester. Manchester’s trail density is 1.4 miles per square mile, where Vermont’s towns sit at 0.6 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Manchester has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Manchester beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 1,276 in 1790, 4,484 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1840 and 4 maps from 1894 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Manchester, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Manchester.
Most working residents leave Manchester for work: only 15% work in town. The average trip to work in Manchester is 20 minutes. Jobs based in Manchester grew to 948 in 2023, 381 more than in 2013.
| Manchester | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 15% | 16% | 8% |
| Median household income | $75,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 68% of U.S. communities. Since 2021, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Manchester.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Manchester has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Manchester’s July high is 80°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Manchester's reported crime rate is below Vermont's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025.
| Manchester | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.7 per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 12.1 per 1,000 residents | 13.9 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
11% of Manchester adults binge drink. No town among the 72 in Vermont we compare has a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Manchester. 27% of Manchester adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Manchester | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 16% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 32% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 84% | 76% | 79% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| What stands out | Manchester | VT |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 5.1% | 8.6% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 3.4% | 5.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.8% | 6.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Manchester. Close and well known come first.
36 mi MountainMount Greylock
37 mi LandmarkFort William Henry
34 mi Theme parkGreat Escape
8 mi Ski areaStratton Mountain Resort106 runs · 1,899 ft vertical
15 mi Ski areaMount Snow119 runs · 1,648 ft vertical
32 mi MuseumClark Art InstituteMount Greylock: Jstergis, CC BY 3.0 · Fort William Henry: IrisKawling at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Great Escape: Jared and Corin, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Stratton Mountain Resort: Rudi Riet from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Mount Snow: William J Sisti from Morristown, NJ, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Clark Art Institute: Daderot, Public domain
None within 15 miles of Manchester; the nearest are
About 5 of every 100 Manchester residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Vermont.
Where Manchester’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
10 notable people were born in Manchester.
Town in Vermont, United States
Manchester is a town in, and one of two shire towns (county seats) of, Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,484 at the 2020 census. Manchester Village (an incorporated village) and Manchester Center are settlement centers within the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Manchester has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
10 notable people were born here, including Joseph Sweetman Ames and Myra Bradwell.
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