Bellevue WA vs Manchester NH — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Bellevue, WA

Washington · Population: 151,199

  • Median HH Income$161,300
  • Median Home Price$1,527,243
  • Unemployment4.0%
  • Bachelor's+71.4%

Manchester, NH

New Hampshire · Population: 115,415

  • Median HH Income$77,415
  • Median Home Price$441,257
  • Unemployment3.8%
  • Bachelor's+33.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bellevue
151,199
Bellevue +
Manchester
115,415
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bellevue
N/A
Manchester
N/A
Median Age
Bellevue
38.3
Manchester
37.9
Manchester +
Foreign Born
Bellevue
42.1%
Bellevue +
Manchester
14.8%
White
Bellevue
45.0%
Manchester
76.7%
Manchester +
Black
Bellevue
2.2%
Manchester
5.3%
Manchester +
Asian
Bellevue
41.0%
Bellevue +
Manchester
4.6%
Hispanic
Bellevue
8.5%
Manchester
13.5%
Manchester +
Spanish at Home
Bellevue
N/A
Manchester
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bellevue
$161,300
Bellevue +
Manchester
$77,415
Per Capita Income
Bellevue
$92,441
Bellevue +
Manchester
$44,220
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bellevue
$76,120
Bellevue +
Manchester
$75,331
Unemployment Rate
Bellevue
4.0%
Manchester
3.8%
Manchester +
Poverty Rate
Bellevue
7.3%
Bellevue +
Manchester
10.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bellevue
71.4%
Bellevue +
Manchester
33.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bellevue
$1,527,243
Manchester
$441,257
Manchester +
Homeownership Rate
Bellevue
51.9%
Bellevue +
Manchester
49.3%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellevue
383
Manchester
134
Manchester +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellevue
3409
Manchester
1048
Manchester +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
18.8%
Bellevue +
Manchester
35.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
6.9%
Bellevue +
Manchester
9.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bellevue
12.5%
Bellevue +
Manchester
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
5.4%
Bellevue +
Manchester
9.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
15.6%
Bellevue +
Manchester
16.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
5.5%
Bellevue +
Manchester
12.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellevue
N/A
Manchester
49.2°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellevue
N/A
Manchester
44.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bellevue
7.5 µg/m³
Manchester
5.9 µg/m³
Manchester +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bellevue
75.0%
Manchester
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bellevue
25.6 min
Bellevue +
Manchester
25.7 min

Which City is Right for You?

Bellevue leads in median household income at $161,300, while manchester offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $441,257. On public safety, Manchester is safer with a violent crime rate of 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to 383 in Bellevue. Manchester has a lower unemployment rate at 3.8%, and Manchester has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bellevue scores better with a lower obesity rate of 18.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Bellevue & Manchester