Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 41% higher in Manchester, NH. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$973
$880
+10% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,150
+10% in Manchester, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,593
+23% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,661
+16% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$336,300
+55% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$77,415
+71% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$56,530
+6% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
37.9 yr
+4.5 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
25.7%
49.3%
+23.6 pp in Manchester, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
33.5%
+15.2 pp in Manchester, NH
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.8 min
+1.0 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
339.5
+36% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,949.2
1,691.4
+43% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
49.2°F
+2.0°F in Hartford, CT
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
44.6 in
+1.0 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
27.0
+11% in Manchester, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$21.67
+7% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / NH)
6.35%
None
+6.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
None
+7.0 pp in CT

Hartford vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Manchester?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Manchester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Manchester?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).