Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Manchester
New Hampshire
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($112,200 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $408/mo less ($954 vs $1,362)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $23,293/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
75% less violent crime than Lansing
Households earn $23,293 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lansing
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$193k less
$112,200 vs $304,700
Manchester
Median Income
$23,293
$74,040 vs $50,747/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
75% lower
336.0 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 31.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Lansing 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 Lansing to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $304,700 median home), income ($50,747 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and Manchester, NH are about 664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.