Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Manchester leads 17 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Paterson
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
66% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $21,948 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $21,948/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Income
$21,948
$74,040 vs $52,092/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
66% lower
336.0 vs 978.6 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ 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 | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 17 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 17 and Paterson wins 6. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $314,100 median home), income ($74,040 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Paterson, NJ are about 200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.