Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 22 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($304,700 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,864)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $18,252/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $18,252 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$272k less
$304,700 vs $576,800
Manchester
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$18,252
$92,292 vs $74,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 22 categories. Manchester wins 14 and Renton wins 8. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $576,800 median home), income ($74,040 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Renton, WA are about 2,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.