Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Manchester?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Manchester?

Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Huntington vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 44% higher in Manchester, NH. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Huntington, WV

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$762

$880

+15% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$758

$1,150

+52% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$881

$1,593

+81% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,661

+48% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$118,800

$336,300

+183% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$43,146

$77,415

+79% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,600

$56,530

+27% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

37.9 yr

+3.0 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

52.5%

49.3%

+3.2 pp in Huntington, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.5%

33.5%

+1.0 pp in Huntington, WV

Avg Commute

18.6 min

23.8 min

+5.2 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

800.3

339.5

+58% in Huntington, WV

Property Crime

3,617.9

1,691.4

+53% in Huntington, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

55.7°F

49.2°F

+6.5°F in Huntington, WV

Annual Precipitation

42.6 in

44.6 in

+2.0 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

27.0

+75% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$21.67

+12% in Huntington, WV

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 Huntington, WV

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 (WV / NH)

None

+6.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

None

+4.8 pp in WV

Huntington vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Manchester?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Manchester?: Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).