Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
12
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($226,200 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,362)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $19,945/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
56% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $19,945 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Columbia
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$79k less
$226,200 vs $304,700
Columbia
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$19,945
$74,040 vs $54,095/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
56% lower
336.0 vs 769.9 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Manchester wins 12. 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 Columbia to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $304,700 median home), income ($54,095 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Manchester, NH are about 801 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.