Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
12
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($202,900 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,362)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Manchester by $15,691/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
79% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $15,691 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$102k less
$202,900 vs $304,700
Baltimore
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$15,691
$74,040 vs $58,349/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
79% lower
336.0 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 11 and Manchester wins 12. 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 Baltimore to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $304,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Manchester, NH are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.