Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($161,800 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,362)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $14,786/yr
Manchester, NH
Pros
21% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $14,786 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 2.8%)
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$143k less
$161,800 vs $304,700
Abilene
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.2% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$14,786
$74,040 vs $59,254/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
21% lower
336.0 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 12 and Manchester wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $304,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Manchester, NH are about 1,698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.