Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
49% less violent crime than Manchester
Households earn $21,530 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($304,700 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $808/mo less ($1,362 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $21,530/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$21,530
$95,570 vs $74,040/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
49% lower
171.0 vs 336.0 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$292k less
$304,700 vs $597,100
Manchester
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Manchester wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $304,700 median home), income ($95,570 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Manchester, NH are about 1,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.