Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Manchester?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Manchester?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 43% higher in Manchester, NH. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$630

$880

+40% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$841

$1,150

+37% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,593

+63% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,661

+39% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$336,300

+119% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$77,415

+75% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$56,530

+50% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

37.9 yr

+9.2 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

36.5%

49.3%

+12.8 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

33.5%

+1.5 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Avg Commute

17.0 min

23.8 min

+6.8 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

339.5

+53% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

3,475.7

1,691.4

+51% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

66.1°F

49.2°F

+16.9°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

44.6 in

+14.6 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Manchester, NH

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

27.0

+82% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$21.67

+25% in Hattiesburg, MS

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 Hattiesburg, MS

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 (MS / NH)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Manchester?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Manchester?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).