Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Manchester leads 13 of 23 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
Vallejo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($304,700 vs $515,500)
55% less violent crime than Vallejo
Rent averages $532/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,894)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $12,072/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,072 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
55% lower
336.0 vs 739.8 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$211k less
$304,700 vs $515,500
Manchester
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Median Income
$12,072
$86,112 vs $74,040/yr
Vallejo
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 13 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 13 and Vallejo wins 10. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $515,500 median home), income ($74,040 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Vallejo, CA are about 2,649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.