Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Manchester?

Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Manchester?

Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Fort Worth vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Fort Worth, TX is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 1% higher in Manchester, NH. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fort Worth, TX

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$880

+33% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,191

$1,150

+3% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$1,593

+14% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,661

+3% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$336,300

+21% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$77,415

+1% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$56,530

+10% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.9 yr

+4.5 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

56.7%

49.3%

+7.4 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

33.5%

+1.8 pp in Manchester, NH

Avg Commute

26.9 min

23.8 min

+3.1 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

465.2

339.5

+27% in Fort Worth, TX

Property Crime

2,735.7

1,691.4

+38% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.7°F

49.2°F

+16.5°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

44.6 in

+8.5 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Manchester, NH

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

Adult base one-way fare — Trinity Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

27.3

+66% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$24.53

+20% in Fort Worth, TX

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 Fort Worth, TX

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 (TX / NH)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Fort Worth vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Manchester?: Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Manchester?: Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).