Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 13 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Manchester
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Manchester by $9,561/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($304,700 vs $466,300)
35% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $9,561 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Income
$9,561
$74,040 vs $64,479/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
35% lower
336.0 vs 518.1 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$162k less
$304,700 vs $466,300
Manchester
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Manchester leads 13 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 9 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 Arden-Arcade to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $304,700 median home), income ($64,479 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Manchester, NH are about 2,591 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.