Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($304,700 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $779/mo less ($1,362 vs $2,141)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $32,724/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,724 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Median Home Value
$256k less
$304,700 vs $560,400
Manchester
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$32,724
$106,764 vs $74,040/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
13% lower
293.2 vs 336.0 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 11 and Vacaville wins 12. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $560,400 median home), income ($74,040 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Vacaville, CA are about 2,627 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.