Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $579k less ($304,700 vs $883,800)
83% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,849)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.2%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $20,349/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,349 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
83% lower
336.0 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$579k less
$304,700 vs $883,800
Manchester
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Manchester
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$20,349
$94,389 vs $74,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 14 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $883,800 median home), income ($74,040 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Oakland, CA are about 2,656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.