Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $472k less ($304,700 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $615/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,977)
23% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.2%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $6,231/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Westminster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Households earn $6,231 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
23% lower
336.0 vs 436.2 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$472k less
$304,700 vs $777,100
Manchester
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Westminster
Median Income
$6,231
$80,271 vs $74,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 14 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $777,100 median home), income ($74,040 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Westminster, CA are about 2,567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.