Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 14 of 22 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Omaha
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
9% less violent crime than Omaha
Households earn $3,838 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Omaha
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($210,300 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,362)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Manchester by $3,838/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$3,838
$74,040 vs $70,202/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
9% lower
336.0 vs 369.0 per 100k
Omaha
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$94k less
$210,300 vs $304,700
Omaha
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.2°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Omaha leads 14 of 22 categories. Manchester wins 8 and Omaha 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $210,300 median home), income ($74,040 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Omaha, NE are about 1,262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.