Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Cary leads 18 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $51,277 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Manchester
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($304,700 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,538)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $51,277/yr
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Cary
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$51,277
$125,317 vs $74,040/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
79% lower
71.0 vs 336.0 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Home Value
$173k less
$304,700 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Cary is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 18 of 23 categories. Cary wins 18 and Manchester wins 5. 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 Cary to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $304,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Manchester, NH are about 634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.