Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Kansas City leads 15 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
8
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.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($208,900 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,362)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Manchester by $8,784/yr
Manchester, NH
Pros
78% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $8,784 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Kansas City
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$96k less
$208,900 vs $304,700
Kansas City
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$8,784
$74,040 vs $65,256/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
78% lower
336.0 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 15 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 15 and Manchester wins 8. 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 Kansas City to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $304,700 median home), income ($65,256 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Manchester, NH are about 1,229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.