Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ 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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($219,800 vs $304,700)
26% less violent crime than Manchester
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $107/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,362)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $9,610/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $9,610 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°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 Hampton
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
26% lower
247.6 vs 336.0 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$85k less
$219,800 vs $304,700
Hampton
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$9,610
$74,040 vs $64,430/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories. Hampton 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 Hampton to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $304,700 median home), income ($64,430 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Manchester, NH are about 484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.