Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
Santa Clarita
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($304,700 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $953/mo less ($1,362 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $42,146/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,146 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Manchester
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Manchester
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$365k less
$304,700 vs $669,200
Manchester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$42,146
$116,186 vs $74,040/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
51% lower
165.4 vs 336.0 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 8 and Santa Clarita wins 15. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $669,200 median home), income ($74,040 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.