Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Gainesville leads 12 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
11
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.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($216,600 vs $304,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $211/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,362)
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $30,257/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $30,257 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Gainesville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Gainesville
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$88k less
$216,600 vs $304,700
Gainesville
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$30,257
$74,040 vs $43,783/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
54% lower
336.0 vs 738.0 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gainesville leads 12 of 23 categories. Gainesville wins 12 and Manchester wins 11. 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 Gainesville to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $304,700 median home), income ($43,783 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Manchester, NH are about 1,099 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.