Relocation profile · Federal data
Manchester-Nashua, NH
BEA RPP 105.7 ranks #363 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 105.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $2,127
- 2BR rent / mo
- $72,754
- Median salary
- 59.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Manchester-Nashua ranks #61 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (59.6/100), with its strongest marks in schools and low hazard.
- #61
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 1,409,032
- metro-area population
- 112
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 500
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: cost of living (6/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Manchester-Nashua ranks #61 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 105.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $2,127/mo, median salary $72,754; LiveAbility Score 59.6/100, strongest in schools and low hazard.
Signature: BEA RPP 105.7 ranks #363 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 105.7 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $2,127/mo.
LiveAbility 59.6/100 puts Manchester-Nashua in the top third (#61 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Manchester-Nashua area is 193,340.
Manchester-Nashua vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
60 Top 16% higher than 84% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Manchester-Nashua housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Manchester-Nashua MSA; housing RPP 134.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $2,127/mo.
Manchester-Nashua wages and employment
Manchester-Nashua posts 193,340 total employment with median salary $72,754 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $35,350 |
| Registered Nurses | $98,600 |
| General and Operations Managers | $124,990 |
| Cashiers | $31,700 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $49,630 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Manchester-Nashua area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Manchester-Nashua area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Manchester-Nashua's composite Life Score is 41.1/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Manchester-Nashua ranks #61 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 59.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Manchester-Nashua - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
99 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
98 /100
- Safety
Safety
91 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
85 /100
- Job market
Job market
83 /100
- Climate
Climate
49 /100
- Housing 7
Housing
7 /100
- Cost of living 6
Cost of living
6 /100
What this shows Manchester-Nashua's strongest dimensions are schools and low hazard; its weakest among scored dims is cost of living at 6/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Manchester-Nashua to
Metros near Manchester-Nashua on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Manchester-Nashua on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Similar LiveAbility score
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Manchester-Nashua cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Manchester-Nashua wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Manchester-Nashua?
Manchester-Nashua runs a $72,754 median salary at a 105.7 cost index, ranking #61 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Manchester-Nashua's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Manchester-Nashua head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Manchester-Nashua
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.