Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Durham leads 14 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Manchester, NH
Pros
46% less violent crime than Durham
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Durham
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$670
$74,710 vs $74,040/yr
Durham
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Violent Crime
46% lower
336.0 vs 619.2 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$12k less
$304,700 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Durham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 14 of 23 categories. Durham wins 14 and Manchester wins 9. 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 Durham to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $304,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Manchester, NH are about 626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.