Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
43% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $19,874 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.2%)
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 13% higher than Montgomery
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($141,900 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,362)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $19,874/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$19,874
$74,040 vs $54,166/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
43% lower
336.0 vs 594.6 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$163k less
$141,900 vs $304,700
Montgomery
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 11 and Montgomery 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 Manchester to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $141,900 median home), income ($74,040 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Montgomery, AL are about 1,091 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.