Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $1204k less ($304,700 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1609/mo less ($1,362 vs $2,971)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $75,112/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $75,112 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Manchester
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Manchester
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$1204k less
$304,700 vs $1,508,900
Manchester
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Manchester
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$75,112
$149,152 vs $74,040/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
28% lower
243.2 vs 336.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 9 and San Mateo wins 14. 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($74,040 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and San Mateo, CA are about 2,666 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.