Living Cost Compare
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,420 in Manchester, NH versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 8% higher in Manchester, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Manchester, NH
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$880
$1,649
+87% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,150
$1,391
+21% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,593
$1,513
+5% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,661
$1,916
+15% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$336,300
$357,600
+6% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$77,415
$71,373
+8% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,530
$54,310
+4% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.9 yr
22.0 yr
+15.9 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
49.3%
50.3%
+1.0 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
57.5%
+24.0 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
23.8 min
19.6 min
+4.2 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
339.5
326.3
+4% in Manchester, NH
Property Crime
1,691.4
2,024.6
+20% in Newark, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.2°F
54.9°F
+5.7°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
44.6 in
43.1 in
+1.5 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)
27.0
19.3
+29% in Manchester, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.67
$29.73
+37% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Manchester, NH
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Manchester, NH
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Newark, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Manchester, NH
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Manchester, NH
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / DE)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.60%
+6.6 pp in DE

Manchester vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Newark?
Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Newark?
Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).