Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Manchester earns a C−, ranked 120th of 125 in New Hampshire, mostly because of schools. Its schools rank among the lowest in New Hampshire on tests and graduation. In its favor, it has 35 miles of trail. History is its standout character grade: an A, better than 94% of U.S. towns, with 36 places on the National Register. 36% of working residents work locally in Manchester, against 9.8% in New Hampshire’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Only 4 of New Hampshire’s 149 towns score lower on safety. Its National Register listings include Gen. John Stark House and Ash Street School.
Where Manchester beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Gen. John Stark House| College | Students |
|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University | 6,292 |
| Manchester Community College | 1,613 |
| University of New Hampshire at Manchester | 662 |
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| McDonough School | PK–4 | 534 |
| Beech Street School | K–4 | 524 |
| Northwest Elementary School | K–4 | 487 |
Its 36 National Register listings are more than in 99% of New Hampshire towns with a listing.
Census counts: 362 in 1790, 115,644 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1848 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Hampshire), ordered by how far Manchester is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Manchester, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 19, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Manchester.
Manchester gets more snow than most of the country, though not than most of New Hampshire and is healthy by national standards but behind most towns in New Hampshire; it also reports violent crime at about twice the New Hampshire rate.
Each of its 6 graded neighbors has a higher School Grade than its D−, Bedford highest at A.
Its public schools are run by the Manchester School District. Three of its 41 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillside Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 1,071 | D |
| Manchester Memorial High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,296 | C+ |
| The Founders Academy Charter School (H)Top results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 152 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NH on state tests and graduation
Violent crime runs at 3.2 per 1,000 residents, about twice the New Hampshire rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its C. At 30 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 97% of New Hampshire’s graded towns. Each of the 6 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Hooksett (A−) to Auburn (A+).
Manchester’s violent crime rate is 3.2 per 1,000 residents. Among 125 New Hampshire towns, just 9 have a higher property crime rate than Manchester. Manchester reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 72% report less.
| Manchester | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.2 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 15.2 per 1,000 residents | 4.4 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
The biggest place to walk is Manchester Waterworks, 842 acres with 3 miles of trail. The trail density in Manchester is 1.0 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Manchester Waterworks | 3 mi | 842 |
| 2. Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve | 2.1 mi | 632 |
| 3. Livingston Park | 1.7 mi | 133 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Within New Hampshire it is less healthy than 86% of the 126 graded towns: New Hampshire sets a high bar. All 6 graded neighbors score healthier than its B+, from Goffstown (A) to Bedford (A+).
Manchester beats the New Hampshire average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 35% of adults feel lonely in Manchester. Of the 126 New Hampshire towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Manchester.
| Manchester | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 30% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 78% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 34% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 33% | 36% |
| What stands out | Manchester | NH |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.8% | 9.8% |
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 24.5% | 27.6% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 13.9% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The Massabesic Lake weather station records that 53 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 94% of New Hampshire places with climate records. January nights average 14.1°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 80% of New Hampshire places with climate records; July afternoons average 83.2°.
Manchester has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
| Manchester | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 14°F | 13°F | 22°F |
| July high | 83°F | 81°F | 85°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
About one in 3 of Manchester’s working residents works in town. Since 2013, Manchester has added 9,646 jobs, to 69,795 in 2023. 11% of Manchester residents live below the poverty line.
| Manchester | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 6.7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $81,000 | $103,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 14% | 16% | 11% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Only 48.7% of households own their home, against 72.8% across New Hampshire.
Adults 18 to 34 are 28% of residents (21% statewide); people 65 and older are 16% of residents (20% statewide). Only 10 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we compare have a lower median age than Manchester. 34% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 41% across New Hampshire.
| Manchester | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38 years | 45 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 20% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 18% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 39% | 29% |
50.2% women, 49.8% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±0.9 points. Across New Hampshire, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 38.5, men 37.4.
| Manchester | NH | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8% | 8.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.5% | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 18.2% | 12.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.5% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.3% | 15.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.9% | 12.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.6% | 7.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.5% | 5.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.8% | 26.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.5% | 17.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.2% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.7% | 24.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.3% | 16.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Goffstown is next at $491K.
No town among the 126 in New Hampshire we compare has a lower share of households owning their home than Manchester. The typical Manchester home is worth about $435,000, up 1.3% in a year, 15% below the New Hampshire typical home.
| Manchester | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 49% | 82% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,564 a month | $1,382 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 50% | 48% | 48% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 1987, 41 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Manchester.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Manchester. Close and well known come first.
38 mi LakeWalden Pond
16 mi Ancient siteAmerica's Stonehenge
35 mi MountainMount Monadnock
in town Stadium & arenaSNHU Arena
17 mi Theme parkCanobie Lake Park
in town MuseumCurrier Museum of ArtWalden Pond: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · America's Stonehenge: User:Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Monadnock: Jonwmcinenrey, CC BY-SA 4.0 · SNHU Arena: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 · Canobie Lake Park: Alex1961, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Currier Museum of Art: Struthious Bandersnatch, CC BY-SA 3.0
6 within 15 miles of the center of Manchester
About 6 of every 100 Manchester residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Hampshire.
3 colleges in town.
36 places in Manchester on the National Register of Historic Places.
45 notable people were born in Manchester.
Largest city in New Hampshire, United States
Manchester is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Located on the banks of the Merrimack River, it had a population of 115,644 at the 2020 census. Manchester is the tenth-most populous city in New England. Along with the city of Nashua, it is one of two seats of New Hampshire's most populous county, Hillsborough County. The Manchester–Nashua metropolitan area has approximately 423,000 residents and lies near the northern end of the Northeast megalopolis. Manchester was first named by the merchant and inventor Samuel Blodget, eponym of Samuel Blodget Park and Blodget Street in the city's North End. His vision was to create a great industrial center similar to that of th…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
8 towns share a border with Manchester.
All 6 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its C−; Merrimack (B+) is closest.
| Town | NH rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | #120 | C− | C− | C | D− | B+ |
| Bedford | #10 | A | D | A− | A | A+ |
| Hooksett | #24 | A | C− | A− | A− | A |
| Londonderry | #40 | A− | C− | A− | B+ | A |
| South Hooksett | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Auburn | #8 | A+ | C | A+ | A− | A |
| Goffstown | #14 | A | C+ | A | B+ | A |
| Merrimack | #47 | B+ | D | A | B− | A |
South Hooksett isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Manchester with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Manchester grades C− overall, better than 15% of U.S. towns and #120 of 125 in New Hampshire. It grades B+ for health, C for safety and D− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D−.
New Hampshire has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Manchester sits nearer the middle.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
45 notable people were born here, including Toby Fox and Matt Czuchry.
