Manchester, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Manchester, Kentucky had a total population of 1,541, the 199th largest city in Kentucky, with a median household income of $23,529, which is 63% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 41.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 63% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (41.1%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Unemployment rate of 9.5% is notably above the national average.
Manchester Quick Facts
How Manchester Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,041 | 1,541 | -24.5% |
| Median household income | $30,291 | $23,529 | -22.3% |
| Median home value | $109,100 | $140,500 | +28.8% |
How Manchester Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Manchester Rankings in Kentucky
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Other Cities in Clay County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneida | 49 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Cities Similar to Manchester
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanceburg | 1,482 | $30,054 | $90,600 | 9.9% | 39.6% |
| Jenkins | 1,406 | $27,200 | $80,200 | 14.5% | 32.3% |
| Salyersville | 1,708 | $20,580 | $77,400 | 10.3% | 58.2% |
| South Shore | 1,642 | $29,340 | $89,200 | 8.8% | 23.1% |
| Liberty | 1,672 | $28,704 | $122,300 | 10.6% | 32.1% |
Population Overview
Manchester is a small community located in Kentucky, within Clay County. The total population is 1,541. It ranks as the 199th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.
Age Demographics
The median age in Manchester is 41.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Manchester is $23,529. This is 63% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 71% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 41.1%. This is 156% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.5%. This is 95% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $140,500. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 42.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% lower than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Manchester is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.7%.
Education
16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Manchester, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Kentucky city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Manchester, Kentucky?
Manchester, Kentucky has a population of 1,541 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Manchester, KY?
The median household income in Manchester is $23,529, which is 71% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Manchester, KY?
The poverty rate in Manchester is 41.1%. This means approximately 629 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Manchester, Kentucky?
Manchester's population is 84.4% White, 5.7% Black, 4.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Manchester, KY?
The median home value in Manchester is $140,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x.
How educated is Manchester, Kentucky?
16.9% of adults (25+) in Manchester hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.