Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($159,300 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $386/mo less ($976 vs $1,362)
17% less violent crime than Manchester
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $18,330/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $18,330 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than El Paso
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
17% lower
278.4 vs 336.0 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$145k less
$159,300 vs $304,700
El Paso
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$18,330
$74,040 vs $55,710/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories. El Paso 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 El Paso to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $304,700 median home), income ($55,710 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Manchester, NH are about 2,050 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.