Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 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
Springfield
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $30,590 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Springfield
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($146,400 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $484/mo less ($878 vs $1,362)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $30,590/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$30,590
$74,040 vs $43,450/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
71% lower
336.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$158k less
$146,400 vs $304,700
Springfield
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 12 and Springfield wins 11. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $146,400 median home), income ($74,040 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Springfield, MO are about 1,218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.