Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Manchester
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($213,400 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,362)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $19,304/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
59% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $19,304 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Albany
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$91k less
$213,400 vs $304,700
Manchester
Median Income
$19,304
$74,040 vs $54,736/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
59% lower
336.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 52.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Albany is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 10 and Manchester wins 13. 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 Albany to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $304,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Manchester, NH are about 121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.