Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $31,188 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.1 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Reading
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($96,900 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($942 vs $1,362)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $31,188/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$31,188
$74,040 vs $42,852/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
7.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$208k less
$96,900 vs $304,700
Reading
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 14 and Reading wins 9. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $96,900 median home), income ($74,040 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Reading, PA are about 295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.