Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 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
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
21% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $13,853 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Pittsburgh
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($171,800 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $209/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,362)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $13,853/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$13,853
$74,040 vs $60,187/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
21% lower
336.0 vs 427.2 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$133k less
$171,800 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 44.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 8 and Pittsburgh wins 15. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($74,040 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Pittsburgh, PA are about 474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.