Fresno CA 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)

Fresno, CA

California · Population: 543,615

  • Median HH Income$66,804
  • Median Home Price$391,442
  • Unemployment8.6%
  • Bachelor's+24.9%

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
Fresno
543,615
Fresno +
Manchester
115,415
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fresno
N/A
Manchester
N/A
Median Age
Fresno
32.4
Fresno +
Manchester
37.9
Foreign Born
Fresno
18.9%
Fresno +
Manchester
14.8%
White
Fresno
38.0%
Manchester
76.7%
Manchester +
Black
Fresno
6.7%
Fresno +
Manchester
5.3%
Asian
Fresno
14.2%
Fresno +
Manchester
4.6%
Hispanic
Fresno
50.5%
Fresno +
Manchester
13.5%
Spanish at Home
Fresno
N/A
Manchester
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fresno
$66,804
Manchester
$77,415
Manchester +
Per Capita Income
Fresno
$31,012
Manchester
$44,220
Manchester +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fresno
$77,230
Fresno +
Manchester
$75,331
Unemployment Rate
Fresno
8.6%
Manchester
3.8%
Manchester +
Poverty Rate
Fresno
20.9%
Manchester
10.7%
Manchester +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fresno
24.9%
Manchester
33.5%
Manchester +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fresno
$391,442
Fresno +
Manchester
$441,257
Homeownership Rate
Fresno
49.7%
Fresno +
Manchester
49.3%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fresno
503
Manchester
134
Manchester +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fresno
2388
Manchester
1048
Manchester +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fresno
37.5%
Manchester
35.0%
Manchester +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fresno
12.7%
Manchester
9.4%
Manchester +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fresno
19.1%
Manchester
17.4%
Manchester +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fresno
15.3%
Manchester
9.9%
Manchester +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fresno
14.1%
Fresno +
Manchester
16.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fresno
13.8%
Manchester
12.9%
Manchester +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fresno
64.2°F
Manchester
49.2°F
Manchester +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fresno
12.8 in
Fresno +
Manchester
44.6 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fresno
23.7 min
Fresno +
Manchester
25.7 min

Which City is Right for You?

Manchester leads in median household income at $77,415, while fresno offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $391,442. On public safety, Manchester is safer with a violent crime rate of 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Fresno. 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, Manchester scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Fresno & Manchester