Manchester

Life is simple in Manchester, a small Carroll County community where the rolling farmland hills coexist with the town’s newer housing developments and antiquated Main Street. “When I think of Manchester, I think of country living,” says AJ Blye, Realtor with RE/MAX who sells homes in the area. “It’s peaceful and it’s where you go if you want a darker sky.”

Manchester’s housing developments can be found on the outskirts of town, where the starry black skies are most prominent. Some developments feature ranch-style and split-level homes from the 1980s, selling for around $350,000 to $500,000. In other developments, you’ll find newer Craftsman-style houses from the 1990s and early 2000s ranging from $500,000 to $650,000. Some homes are fixed on quarter-acre lots right next to other houses, establishing a more suburban feel, while others sit on several acres of land, offering more privacy. Depending on where you live, you may even have views of beautiful rolling hills and sprawling corn fields. Manchester gets a bit more condensed but still exudes that small-town charm on Main Street, where you can get an older Colonial Revival from the late 1800s and early 1900s for around $200,000 to $250,000.

Houses on Main Street blend with the town’s small businesses where locals like to shop and eat. Blye says, “Manchester spent a lot of money on Main Street putting up walkways and improving sidewalks, so it’s become a nice area to walk around.” There are several shops you can check out on Main Street, whether you want a bouquet from Main St. Florist of Manchester, a guitar from Hess Music or new tires from Manchester Auto Parts, which also serves as a gas station. You’ll also find a few restaurants, like Dutch Corner, a popular spot for classic breakfast food, and Spargos, a local favorite for crab and all-you-can-eat ribs and shrimp. At Spargos, you can enjoy your food while playing pool with friends and listening to live music from local bands. For groceries, you can head to Miller’s Market, a family-run business serving the community since 1921. As you head south down Main Street, it becomes Maryland Route 30, which leads you to a few shopping centers with a Walmart, Weis and a mix of national chain and local restaurants.

Locals enjoy getting some fresh air at Christmas Tree Park, appropriately named for its many evergreen trees. Whether you want to play on the beach volleyball and tennis courts, hit the ramps at the skate park or have fun on the playground, there are lots of fun activities for the community. Pine Valley Park offers a more natural setting where you can relax by the pond and hike through the woods. The park is home to Charlotte’s Quest Nature Center, which offers environmental programs and hosts annual events like the Haunted Trail and the less scary Fall Fun Trail. One of the town’s most highly-anticipated events is the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department Carnival. The week-long spectacle brings the community together for a parade, live music, the crowning of Manchester’s Fire Queen and topped off with Fourth of July Fireworks. The fire department’s carnival grounds and banquet hall are used for several other events throughout the year as well, such as the Harvest Festival, car shows and bingo.

Students living on the south side of Manchester attend Manchester Elementary School, rated an A-minus by Niche. Those on the north side go to B-plus-rated Ebb Valley Elementary School. Both elementary schools feed into North Carroll Middle School and Manchester Valley High School, both of which also receive a B-plus grade. High schoolers perform well academically, with Manchester Valley rated an 8 out of 10 by GreatSchools regarding college readiness.

According to Blye, a lot of locals commute 40 miles south to Baltimore or even 70 miles south to Washington D.C. But the distance is all worth it for those seeking a place to call home in a cozy country setting.

Written By

Nicolas Stuart

Photography Contributed By

Bryan Allen

Video By

Bill Jennings