Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
77% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $24,307 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Milwaukee
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($157,800 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $380/mo less ($982 vs $1,362)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $24,307/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$24,307
$74,040 vs $49,733/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
77% lower
336.0 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$147k less
$157,800 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 39.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 14 and Milwaukee wins 9. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $157,800 median home), income ($74,040 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Milwaukee, WI are about 833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.