Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,676 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $976k less ($304,700 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($1,362 vs $2,067)
47% less violent crime than Berkeley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $30,676/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$30,676
$104,716 vs $74,040/yr
Manchester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
47% lower
336.0 vs 638.8 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$976k less
$304,700 vs $1,280,300
Manchester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Manchester
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories. Berkeley 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 Berkeley to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $304,700 median home), income ($104,716 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Manchester, NH are about 2,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.