Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($155,200 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $395/mo less ($967 vs $1,362)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $25,143/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
78% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $25,143 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$150k less
$155,200 vs $304,700
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$25,143
$74,040 vs $48,897/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
78% lower
336.0 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County to Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $304,700 median home), income ($48,897 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Manchester, NH are about 968 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.