Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 18 of 23 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Manchester
New Hampshire
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($304,700 vs $442,800)
42% less violent crime than Lynn
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $149/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,511)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Income
$3,994
$74,040 vs $70,046/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
42% lower
336.0 vs 574.6 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$138k less
$304,700 vs $442,800
Manchester
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 18 of 23 categories. Lynn wins 5 and Manchester wins 18. 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 Lynn to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $304,700 median home), income ($70,046 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and Manchester, NH are about 43 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.