What are the schools like in Manchester, NH?

Manchester is served primarily by Manchester School District. The district operates 12 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in Manchester?

The median household income in Manchester, NH is $74,040 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Manchester, NH?

Manchester has an average high temperature of 31.7°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 52.8 inches.

Manchester, NH Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Manchester, NH affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Manchester is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $304,700 and the median rent is $1,362 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Manchester, NH?

Manchester has a violent crime rate of 336.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1648.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Manchester, NH a Good Place to Live?

Manchester is a mid-sized city of 115,037 in New Hampshire, with a median household income of $74,040 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Manchester stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Manchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Manchester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 104.2

Manchester's overall cost of living index is 104.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Manchester costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Manchester, NH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$304,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,362	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,040	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Manchester's violent crime rate is 336.0 per 100,000 residents — 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

336.0 /100k

Property Crime

1648.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Manchester is served primarily by Manchester School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Manchester, NH	National Avg
School District	Manchester School District	—
Elementary Schools	12	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Manchester sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 81.1°F in July, with 42.5 inches of annual precipitation and 52.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Manchester, NH
Average High — January	31.7°F
Average High — July	81.1°F
Annual Precipitation	42.5"
Annual Snowfall	52.8"

Demographics

Metric	Manchester, NH	National Avg
Population	115,037	—
Median Age	37.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.1%	18.9%
Asian	5.1%	6.3%
Under 18	18.2%	22.2%
65 and over	14.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

South Hooksett, NH 3 mi Pinardville, NH 4 mi Hooksett, NH 8 mi East Merrimack, NH 8 mi Goffstown, NH 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Manchester

Manchester, NH is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

03103 03104 03102 03109 03101

Manchester vs Other Cities

Manchester, NH vs South Hooksett, NH Manchester, NH vs Pinardville, NH Manchester, NH vs Hooksett, NH Manchester, NH vs East Merrimack, NH Manchester, NH vs Goffstown, NH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester, NH affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Manchester roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $304,700 and median rent is $1,362/month.

What is the crime rate in Manchester, NH?

Manchester's violent crime rate is 336.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1648.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Manchester?

Public schools in Manchester are operated by Manchester School District. The district has 12 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Manchester, NH a good place to live?

Manchester, NH has a population of 115,037, a median household income of $74,040, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Manchester?

Manchester averages 31.7°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.5 inches with about 52.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Manchester?

Manchester, NH is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 03103, 03104, 03102, 03109, 03101.

What is the population of Manchester?

The population of Manchester, New Hampshire is 115,037 with a median age of 37.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Manchester?

Key numbers for living in Manchester: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $304,700, median household income $74,040, crime index 84 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Manchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.