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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Location independence means living where the math works. Nothing too surprising there. We analyzed 1 cities in New Hampshire for low overhead and reliable utilities. Manchester ranks #1: index 111, utilities 102.
Location independence means living where the math works. Nothing too surprising there. We analyzed 1 cities in New Hampshire for low overhead and reliable utilities. Manchester ranks #1: index 111, utilities 102.
So, Manchester. Cost index of 111, rent at $1,976/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $77,415, which is below the national median. You get the picture.
Bottom line: Manchester leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Manchester — cost index 111, rent $1,976/mo, income $77,415
Digital-nomad scoring: cost index 111, utilities 102, rent $1,976/mo — minimum monthly burn rate
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
115,474 residents · New Hampshire
Look, the #1 spot goes to Manchester, and the breakdown explains why. And more often than not, renters here pay $1,976/month — costing renters $972 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 102, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 128. The 31% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended. The math checks out.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | 111 | $1,976 | Details |
Manchester ranks #1 in New Hampshire for this analysis with a cost index of 111 and median income of $77,415.
Manchester scores highest for digital nomads due to its strong income potential, median rent of $1,976/mo, and competitive median income of $77,415.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Manchester is $1,976/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $81 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Manchester is $427,321, which is 5.5× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
New Hampshire has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 0%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.57%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.