7 Best Places to Live in New Hampshire
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in New Hampshire with our detailed guide.
Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 18% of Residents
Under 20
21%
Over 65
17%
Manchester, NH
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,766
Population
114,097
Renter Mix
55% Rent
Historic architecture spans across New England’s Queen City
Scenic
•
Affordable
•
Historic
Welcome to Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city, where historic mill buildings meet modern living along the Merrimack River. This former mill town honors its industrial heritage while embracing its role as a contemporary New England community. Housing options span from restored mill apartments downtown to residential communities throughout the city's established neighborhoods. The rental market remains steady, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,718, showing a 0.5% increase over the past year, while two-bedroom units average $2,145 with a 4% annual increase.
Manchester's downtown features the renowned Currier Museum of Art and the Palace Theatre, a restored 1915 landmark presenting live performances throughout the year. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Derryfield Park's trails or observe wildlife at the Massabesic Audubon Center. The presence of Southern New Hampshire University and the University of New Hampshire at Manchester adds to the city's educational foundation. The Millyard district showcases thoughtfully renovated industrial architecture, while the North End features classic New England streetscapes. Downtown continues to grow with local restaurants, independent shops, and events at the SNHU Arena, combining Manchester's historic character with contemporary appeal.
Explore the City
Downtown Manchester offers wide tree-lined sidewalks alongside bookstores, boutiques, and restaurants.
Both apartments and homes cater to the residents' needs.
The Piscataquog Trail in Manchester is highly utilized by cyclists and pedestrians.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$72,484
Average: $89,962
Education
32,575
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
65,344
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Manchester has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
55%
Non-Renters
45%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
23%
Other Education
77%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Manchester, NH is $1,454 for a studio, $1,763 for one bedroom, $2,145 for two bedrooms, and $2,618 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Manchester has increased by 0.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,763/month
654 Sq Ft
House
$2,958/month
1,318 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,130/month
953 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,395/month
1,122 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Manchester, NH is 10.4% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Manchester is 15.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,460 - $2,621. You can expect to pay 0.5% less for groceries, 15.4% more for utilities, and 3.6% more for transportation.
Compare Cities
Learn More About Manchester
What Contents You Should Include in Your 'First-Night' Apartment Box
Your first-night box saves you from digging through boxes for basics. Here’s exactly what to pack.
Is Renters Insurance Worth It? What It Costs and What It Covers
At about $12/month, renters insurance costs less than coffee. Here’s when it’s worth it.
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Manchester, NH is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Minimal Public Transit
Transit
10
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
487 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
426 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
389 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
325 Students
Public
Grades K-5
120 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
746 Students
Public
Grades K-8
750 Students
Public
Grades K-8
858 Students
Henry J. Mclaughlin Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
660 Students
Kreiva Academy Public Charter School (M)
Public
Grades 6-8
69 Students
Manchester Memorial High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,405 Students
Manchester Central High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,168 Students
Manchester School Of Technology (High School)
Public
Grades 9-12
332 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
772 Students
The Founders Academy Charter School (H)
Public
Grades 9-12
147 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- SEE Science Center
- Amoskeag Fishways
- Massabesic Audubon Center
- The Educational Farm
- Charmingfare Farm
Military Bases
Airports
- Manchester Boston Regional
- Portsmouth International at Pease
Top Apartments in Manchester
Houses for Rent in Manchester
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.