Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Pasadena
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
41% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,342 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($171,600 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,362)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 32°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Manchester by $9,342/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$9,342
$74,040 vs $64,698/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
41% lower
336.0 vs 566.1 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$133k less
$171,600 vs $304,700
Pasadena
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 14 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $171,600 median home), income ($74,040 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Pasadena, TX are about 1,600 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.