Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($304,700 vs $523,100)
53% less violent crime than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,530)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $11,836/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,836 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
53% lower
336.0 vs 720.1 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$218k less
$304,700 vs $523,100
Manchester
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Portland
Median Income
$11,836
$85,876 vs $74,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 13 and Portland wins 10. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $523,100 median home), income ($74,040 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Portland, OR are about 2,497 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.