Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Reno
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($304,700 vs $462,100)
37% less violent crime than Reno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Reno, NV
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$967
$74,040 vs $73,073/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
37% lower
336.0 vs 529.6 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$157k less
$304,700 vs $462,100
Manchester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Reno
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 10 and Reno wins 13. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $462,100 median home), income ($74,040 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Reno, NV are about 2,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.