Manchester, New Hampshire

Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Manchester.

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How much does it cost to live in Manchester?

For relocators asking how much Manchester costs: the housing index sits at 110 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $336,300 and rents near $1,465. Local median income is about $77,415 and unemployment recently ran 3.0% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 23 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 600.6 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10 · Source vintages vary — see per-metric labels below · Methodology & sources

Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.

Housing cost index: 110U.S. avg 100
Median home value: $336,300U.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,465U.S. $1,348
Median income: $77,415U.S. $78,538
Unemployment: 3.0%U.S. 4.2%
Avg commute: 23 minCatalog avg 25 min
Violent crime: 600.6per 100k · avg 586.6
Summer high: 82°FCatalog avg 87°F

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Key figures

Each metric shows how Manchester compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).

Population: 116,386City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Median household income: $77,415Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538
Housing cost index: 110ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year10% above U.S. avgU.S. 100
Median home value: $336,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year11% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,465City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year9% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348
Unemployment: 3.0%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts
Avg commute: 23 min8% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
Walk Score: 5011% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
Violent crime rate: 600.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)Near U.S. avg (586.6)U.S. 586.6
Property crime rate: 2372.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)23% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9
Summer high: 82°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
Winter low: 20°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
Annual rainfall: 40.4 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals22% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
Sunny days: 236As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12% below U.S. avgU.S. 268

Population trend

Manchester grew 6.2% from 109,613 in 2010 to 116,386 in 2024.

Dec 2024116,386 people+6.2% vs 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.

Is Manchester expensive compared to the U.S. average?

Manchester's housing cost index is 110 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($336,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,465 vs $1,348).

Housing cost index 110 (U.S. 100)
Median home $336,300 vs U.S. $303,400
Median rent $1,465 vs U.S. $1,348

How much does housing cost in Manchester?

Typical ownership costs center near $336,300, while median gross rent is about $1,465 a month. Against a median household income of $77,415, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.

Median home value $336,300
Median rent $1,465/month
Median household income $77,415

What is the job market like in Manchester?

County unemployment recently ran 3.0% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Manchester is about $77,415 (U.S. $78,538).

Unemployment 3.0% (U.S. 4.2%)
Median income $77,415

How long is the typical commute in Manchester?

Average one-way commute time is about 23 minutes, with Walk Score near 50/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.

23 minutes average one-way
Walk Score 50/100

Is Manchester safer than similar U.S. cities?

Published violent-offense rates are about 600.6 per 100k and property about 2372.1 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.

Violent 600.6 per 100k
Property 2372.1 per 100k

What is the climate like year-round in Manchester?

Normals show summer highs near 82°F, winter lows near 20°F, about 40.4 inches of rain, and roughly 236 sunny days a year.

Summer high 82°F
Winter low 20°F
40.4 in rain · 236 sunny days

Compare Manchester to another city Find cities like Manchester

Manchester, New Hampshire counts about 116,386 residents inside the city limits. Households here report a median income near $77,415; our housing-derived cost index is about 110 (close to the national housing-cost baseline). A typical home near $336,300 and rents around $1,465 frame most shortlists.

Short summers and tax structure quirks pull many New England movers. Winter lows around 20°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Commutes average near 23 minutes one-way, with walkability near 50/100. A recent county unemployment reading near 3.0% suggests a relatively tight local labor market. Violent-offense rates near 600.6 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.

Manchester is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Manchester with nearby alternatives before you relocate.

Nearby & similar cities

Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.

Sources

Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Manchester city, 1600000US3345140) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
BLS: BLS LAUS · Hillsborough County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014710 MANCHESTER AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10

Canonical profile · All New Hampshire cities · Full city index