Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 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
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
29% less violent crime than Tempe
Homes cost $77k less ($304,700 vs $382,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 106°F
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,472)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$2,018
$74,040 vs $72,022/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
29% lower
336.0 vs 470.3 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$77k less
$304,700 vs $382,100
Manchester
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Summer Heat
24.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 12 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($74,040 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Tempe, AZ are about 2,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.