Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 16 of 23 categories
Downey
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Manchester
New Hampshire
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Households earn $10,196 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($304,700 vs $679,000)
27% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $452/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,814)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $10,196/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$10,196
$84,236 vs $74,040/yr
Manchester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
27% lower
336.0 vs 460.5 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$374k less
$304,700 vs $679,000
Manchester
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 16 of 23 categories. Downey wins 7 and Manchester wins 16. 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 Downey to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $304,700 median home), income ($84,236 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Manchester, NH are about 2,567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.