Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Manchester?

Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Manchester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Dover or Manchester?

Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Dover vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 25% higher in Manchester, NH. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Dover, DE

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$993

$880

+11% in Dover, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,150

+10% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,185

$1,593

+34% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,634

$1,661

+2% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,500

$336,300

+35% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$58,336

$77,415

+33% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,690

$56,530

+21% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

37.9 yr

+2.8 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

47.0%

49.3%

+2.3 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.1%

33.5%

+6.4 pp in Manchester, NH

Avg Commute

24.0 min

23.8 min

+0.2 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,025.3

339.5

+67% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

6,159.1

1,691.4

+73% in Dover, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.9°F

49.2°F

+7.7°F in Dover, DE

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

44.6 in

+1.5 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.3

27.0

+40% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.73

$21.67

+27% in Dover, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Manchester, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Dover, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Manchester, NH

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / NH)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.60%

None

+6.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Manchester?: Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Manchester?: Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).