Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Manchester leads 15 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
39% less violent crime than Palmdale
Homes cost $93k less ($304,700 vs $397,500)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,625)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Median income trails Palmdale by $4,374/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Households earn $4,374 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
39% lower
336.0 vs 551.0 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$93k less
$304,700 vs $397,500
Manchester
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$4,374
$78,414 vs $74,040/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 15 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 15 and Palmdale wins 8. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $397,500 median home), income ($74,040 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Palmdale, CA are about 2,545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.