Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Manchester
New Hampshire
13
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Households earn $6,203 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $615k less ($304,700 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $491/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $6,203/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$6,203
$80,243 vs $74,040/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
4% lower
322.3 vs 336.0 per 100k
Boulder
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$615k less
$304,700 vs $919,700
Manchester
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 52.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $304,700 median home), income ($80,243 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Manchester, NH are about 1,749 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.