Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
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 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rio Rancho
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $4,938/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($246,700 vs $304,700)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Households earn $4,938 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$4,938
$78,978 vs $74,040/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
5% lower
318.2 vs 336.0 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$58k less
$246,700 vs $304,700
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 4 and Rio Rancho wins 19. 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $246,700 median home), income ($74,040 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.