Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,597)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $40k less ($304,700 vs $344,900)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $14,726/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Nashua, NH
Pros
52% less violent crime than Manchester
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,726 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$40k less
$304,700 vs $344,900
Manchester
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.1% unemployment
Nashua
Median Income
$14,726
$88,766 vs $74,040/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
52% lower
160.5 vs 336.0 per 100k
Nashua
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 9 and Nashua 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 Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $344,900 median home), income ($74,040 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Nashua, NH are about 16 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.