Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 13 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Midland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
8% less violent crime than Midland
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $16,408/yr
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Midland
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $16,408 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Violent Crime
8% lower
336.0 vs 364.9 per 100k
Midland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$16,408
$90,448 vs $74,040/yr
Midland
Median Home Value
$24k less
$280,700 vs $304,700
Midland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.2% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 13 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 10 and Midland wins 13. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $280,700 median home), income ($74,040 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Midland, TX are about 1,830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.