Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $17,714 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than McAllen
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($158,700 vs $304,700)
55% less violent crime than Manchester
Rent averages $407/mo less ($955 vs $1,362)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $17,714/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$17,714
$74,040 vs $56,326/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
55% lower
150.0 vs 336.0 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$146k less
$158,700 vs $304,700
McAllen
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 9 and McAllen 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 Manchester to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $158,700 median home), income ($74,040 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and McAllen, TX are about 1,900 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.