Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 New Haven 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
New Haven
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
37% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $19,735 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than New Haven
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($236,500 vs $304,700)
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $19,735/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$19,735
$74,040 vs $54,305/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
37% lower
336.0 vs 534.8 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
New Haven
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$68k less
$236,500 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 135,736 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Haven leads 12 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 11 and New Haven 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $236,500 median home), income ($74,040 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and New Haven, CT are about 138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.