Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
6
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.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $348/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,362)
Homes cost $59k less ($246,000 vs $304,700)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Manchester by $12,537/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
72% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $12,537 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Albuquerque
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$59k less
$246,000 vs $304,700
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$12,537
$74,040 vs $61,503/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
72% lower
336.0 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 17 and Manchester wins 6. 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 Albuquerque to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $304,700 median home), income ($61,503 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Manchester, NH are about 1,950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.