Manchester

Hillsborough Countyβ€’Merrimack Valleyβ€’Population: 115,644

Overview

Manchester is New Hampshire's largest city and serves as the economic and cultural hub of the state. Located along the Merrimack River in Hillsborough County, Manchester combines urban amenities with New England charm. The city's revitalized downtown features the historic Millyard District, where former textile mills have been transformed into modern office spaces, apartments, and the SEE Science Center.

The city offers excellent access to employment, education, and healthcare, with major employers including Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, and numerous financial services firms. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport provides convenient air travel, while the city's location along I-93 offers easy access to Boston (about an hour south) and the White Mountains (an hour north). The SNHU Arena hosts concerts and sporting events, while the Currier Museum of Art showcases American and European works.

Manchester's diverse neighborhoods range from the historic North End to the family-friendly suburbs on the city's outskirts. The school system includes both traditional public schools and several charter options. With a mix of single-family homes, condos, and apartments, Manchester attracts young professionals, families, and retirees seeking urban convenience without Boston prices.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Job market
  • β€’Urban amenities
  • β€’Airport access
  • β€’Cultural attractions

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Higher crime in some areas
  • β€’Traffic
  • β€’Urban density

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Manchester.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$20.24
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$13.10
Equalization ratio: 65%
Municipal
$10.04
Local School
$7.33
State Education
$1.51
County
$1.36

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$20.24$13.10$10.04$7.33$1.51$1.36

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$5,060$422
$350,000$7,084$590
$500,000$10,120$843
$750,000$15,180$1,265
$1,000,000$20,240$1,687

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $20.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
81.1Β°F
Winter Avg High
37.2Β°F
Annual Snowfall
47.1 in
Annual Rainfall
48.2 in
Sunny Days/Year
265
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
52 mi
~64 min drive
Portsmouth
44 mi
~57 min drive
Concord
18 mi
~25 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
2/10
Crime Rate
28.76/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer - https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/ β€’ Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
33/100
Trail Miles
15.4
0
Boat Launches
10
0
Ski Areas
1

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:6 miles
XC Ski Trails:2 miles
0

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$74,040
Per Capita Income
$41,067
Median Family Income
$90,282

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$304,700
Median Rent
$1,186/mo
Homeownership Rate
48.2%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
4.15%
In Labor Force
68,658
Work From Home
0.47%

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.88%
Total with Degree
18,006

πŸš—Commute

Work From Home
0.47%

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
37 years
Avg Household Size
2.32 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Manchester

62 registered condo associations β€” offering active low-maintenance living options.

All 62 condo associationsβ–Ό

Source: CAI-NE 2024-2025 Annual Resource Directory (data as of April 2024)

Compare Manchester with Other Towns

See how Manchester stacks up against other NH communities.