Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ 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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($86,200 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $532/mo less ($830 vs $1,362)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $32,597/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $32,597 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Dayton
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$219k less
$86,200 vs $304,700
Dayton
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$32,597
$74,040 vs $41,443/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
75% lower
336.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Dayton 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 Dayton to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $304,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Manchester, NH are about 696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.