Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 15 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($227,200 vs $304,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $19,600/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Manchester
Manchester, NH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $19,600 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$78k less
$227,200 vs $304,700
Manchester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Income
$19,600
$74,040 vs $54,440/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
14% lower
336.0 vs 392.9 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and Manchester wins 15. 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 Bridgeport to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $304,700 median home), income ($54,440 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Manchester, NH are about 153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.