Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Manchester
New Hampshire
8
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,099 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Manchester
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $766k less ($304,700 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1115/mo less ($1,362 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $60,099/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$60,099
$134,139 vs $74,040/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
41% lower
199.1 vs 336.0 per 100k
Manchester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$766k less
$304,700 vs $1,070,500
Manchester
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Manchester
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Manchester wins 8. 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 Carlsbad to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $304,700 median home), income ($134,139 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Manchester, NH are about 2,551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.