Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 22 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $29,884 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Rochester
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($111,400 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $367/mo less ($995 vs $1,362)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $29,884/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$29,884
$74,040 vs $44,156/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
42% lower
336.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$193k less
$111,400 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 22 categories. Manchester wins 12 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($74,040 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Rochester, NY are about 312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.