Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
30% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $15,132 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Wilmington
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $149/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,362)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Manchester by $15,132/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$15,132
$74,040 vs $58,908/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
30% lower
336.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$14k less
$304,700 vs $318,600
Manchester
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 10 and Wilmington wins 13. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($74,040 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Wilmington, NC are about 699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.