Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Manchester leads 16 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Pomona
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($304,700 vs $524,700)
53% less violent crime than Pomona
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,631)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,631/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
Median Income
$525
$74,040 vs $73,515/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
53% lower
336.0 vs 715.9 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$220k less
$304,700 vs $524,700
Manchester
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Pomona, 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 | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 149,831 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 16 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 16 and Pomona wins 7. 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 Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $524,700 median home), income ($74,040 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Pomona, CA are about 2,545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.