Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Hoover leads 18 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Manchester
New Hampshire
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
77% less violent crime than Manchester
Households earn $27,725 more per year on average
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($304,700 vs $366,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $27,725/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Hoover
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$27,725
$101,765 vs $74,040/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
77% lower
78.0 vs 336.0 per 100k
Hoover
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Home Value
$62k less
$304,700 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 18 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 18 and Manchester wins 5. 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 Hoover to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $304,700 median home), income ($101,765 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Manchester, NH are about 1,063 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.