Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
12
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Manchester
Homes cost $76k less ($229,000 vs $304,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Median income trails Manchester by $2,996/yr
Manchester, NH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,996 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
31% lower
232.7 vs 336.0 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$76k less
$229,000 vs $304,700
Garland
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$2,996
$74,040 vs $71,044/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Garland is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland 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 Garland to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $304,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Manchester, NH are about 1,531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.