Best Life Index › States › New Hampshire › Cities › Manchester

New Hampshire city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Manchester?

What it costs to live in Manchester, and how it compares with other New Hampshire cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

18

9th best value in New Hampshire

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New Hampshire cities.

Overall livability

22

9th overall in New Hampshire

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Manchester is home to about 114,730 people. A typical home runs $258,100 and a household earns around $66,900, a price-to-income ratio of 3.9. Among New Hampshire's cities, it ranks 9th for value and 9th overall.

Manchester at a glance

Median home price

$258,100

8th in NH of 9

Median rent

$1,220/mo

Median household income

$66,900

Home price to income

3.9x

Unemployment

4.7%

6th in NH of 9

School rating

5/10

9th in NH of 9

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NH of 9

Walk score

13/100

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‹ See all top New Hampshire cities ranked  ยท  New Hampshire state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New Hampshire only. Updated 2026.