Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Manchester leads 15 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $22,589 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Waterbury
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($162,800 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $222/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,362)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $22,589/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$22,589
$74,040 vs $51,451/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
4% lower
322.5 vs 336.0 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$142k less
$162,800 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 15 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 15 and Waterbury wins 8. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($74,040 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Waterbury, CT are about 128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.