Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Chattanooga leads 14 of 21 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($230,500 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,362)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Manchester by $16,337/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
59% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $16,337 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chattanooga
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$74k less
$230,500 vs $304,700
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$16,337
$74,040 vs $57,703/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
59% lower
336.0 vs 823.7 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 14 of 21 categories. Chattanooga wins 14 and Manchester wins 7. 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 Chattanooga to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $304,700 median home), income ($57,703 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Manchester, NH are about 919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.