Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
10
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($212,500 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,362)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $11,046/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
23% less violent crime than Columbus
Households earn $11,046 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Columbus
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$92k less
$212,500 vs $304,700
Columbus
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.0°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$11,046
$74,040 vs $62,994/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
23% lower
336.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 13 and Manchester wins 10. 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 Columbus to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $304,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Manchester, NH are about 632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.