Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Manchester leads 13 of 22 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $575k less ($304,700 vs $879,900)
57% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $583/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,945)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $42,028/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $42,028 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
57% lower
336.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$575k less
$304,700 vs $879,900
Manchester
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$42,028
$116,068 vs $74,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Manchester leads 13 of 22 categories. Manchester wins 13 and Seattle wins 9. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $879,900 median home), income ($74,040 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Seattle, WA are about 2,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.