Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $518k less ($304,700 vs $822,600)
54% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $429/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,791)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$2,204
$76,244 vs $74,040/yr
Manchester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
54% lower
336.0 vs 728.5 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$518k less
$304,700 vs $822,600
Manchester
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Manchester
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 9 and Manchester wins 14. 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 Los Angeles to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $304,700 median home), income ($76,244 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Manchester, NH are about 2,579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.