Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 12 of 22 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
Providence
Rhode Island
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $12,675 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
18% less violent crime than Manchester
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,362)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $12,675/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$12,675
$74,040 vs $61,365/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
18% lower
276.7 vs 336.0 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$12k less
$293,000 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Providence leads 12 of 22 categories. Manchester wins 10 and Providence wins 12. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $293,000 median home), income ($74,040 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Providence, RI are about 80 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.