Manchester NH vs Salt Lake City UT — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Manchester, NH

New Hampshire · Population: 115,415

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

Salt Lake City, UT

Utah · Population: 203,888

  • Median HH Income$74,925
  • Median Home Price$580,126
  • Unemployment3.8%
  • Bachelor's+50.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Manchester
115,415
Salt Lake City
203,888
Salt Lake City +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Manchester
N/A
Salt Lake City
N/A
Median Age
Manchester
37.9
Salt Lake City
33.0
Salt Lake City +
Foreign Born
Manchester
14.8%
Salt Lake City
15.4%
Salt Lake City +
White
Manchester
76.7%
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
70.5%
Black
Manchester
5.3%
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
2.7%
Asian
Manchester
4.6%
Salt Lake City
5.3%
Salt Lake City +
Hispanic
Manchester
13.5%
Salt Lake City
20.8%
Salt Lake City +
Spanish at Home
Manchester
N/A
Salt Lake City
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Manchester
$77,415
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
$74,925
Per Capita Income
Manchester
$44,220
Salt Lake City
$49,642
Salt Lake City +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Manchester
$75,331
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
$60,713
Unemployment Rate
Manchester
3.8%
Salt Lake City
3.8%
Salt Lake City +
Poverty Rate
Manchester
10.7%
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
13.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Manchester
33.5%
Salt Lake City
50.9%
Salt Lake City +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Manchester
$441,257
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
$580,126
Homeownership Rate
Manchester
49.3%
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
46.8%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Manchester
134
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
245
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Manchester
1048
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
1931

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Manchester
35.0%
Salt Lake City
29.5%
Salt Lake City +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Manchester
9.4%
Salt Lake City
7.9%
Salt Lake City +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Manchester
17.4%
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
18.2%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Manchester
9.9%
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
12.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Manchester
16.4%
Salt Lake City
16.0%
Salt Lake City +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Manchester
12.9%
Salt Lake City
7.9%
Salt Lake City +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Manchester
49.2°F
Manchester +
Salt Lake City
52.8°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Manchester
44.6 in
Salt Lake City
16.1 in
Salt Lake City +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Manchester
25.7 min
Salt Lake City
21.3 min
Salt Lake City +

Which City is Right for You?

Manchester leads in median household income at $77,415, 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 245 in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City has a lower unemployment rate at 3.8%, and Manchester has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Salt Lake City scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Manchester & Salt Lake City