Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 12 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Rockford
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
69% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $23,296 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rockford
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($114,100 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $456/mo less ($906 vs $1,362)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $23,296/yr
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$23,296
$74,040 vs $50,744/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
69% lower
336.0 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$191k less
$114,100 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 37.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 12 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 11 and Rockford wins 12. 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 Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $114,100 median home), income ($74,040 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Rockford, IL are about 896 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.