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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dive into Manchester's numbers: cost index 111 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (1 points below national average), rent $1,976/month, income $77,415, and a home price of $427,321. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 102, while Housing runs …
Dive into Manchester's numbers: cost index 111 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (1 points below national average), rent $1,976/month, income $77,415, and a home price of $427,321. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 102, while Housing runs 128. With 115,474 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Manchester (index 111 — we had to double-check this one — , rent $1,976). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Let's be honest: New Hampshire isn't cheap. That's more or less in line with the region. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Manchester proves it with a cost index of 111, the lowest in New Hampshire, and we've ranked all 1 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
For all that, there's a counter-signal worth noting: The 1 cities we track in New Hampshire paint a surprisingly balanced picture. And for the typical household, average cost index: 111. Median rent: $1,976/month — and yes, that's adjusted for the region — . Household income: $77,415. New Hampshire is known for no income tax in a traditionally expensive region — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
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
1 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | 111 | $1,976 | Details |
115,474 residents · New Hampshire
Real talk: What does daily life actually cost in Manchester? Start with the 31% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Utilities (index 102) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 128) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $77,415 and homes at $427,321 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Cities are ranked by overall cost of living index in ascending order. This index weights housing (Zillow ZORI rent data) most heavily, with food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare sub-indices providing a composite picture. A score of 80 means overall costs are 20% below the national median. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Manchester ranks #1 in New Hampshire for this analysis with a cost index of 111 and 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.