The Town FilesManchester, New Hampshire
City in Hillsborough County · population 115,644 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $365,600
- Household income
- $81,007
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 38.0
Manchester is a city of 115,644 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $365,600, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more walkable than 100% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 99% of New Hampshire towns, hipper than 95% of New Hampshire towns.
How Manchester ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Manchester is worth $365,600, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $81,007, which is more affordable than 20% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,564 a month. 48.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manchester | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $365,600 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,564 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $81,007 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.7% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Manchester
| People | Manchester | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.0% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 92.5% |
Weather in Manchester
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 13.0°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 9, 1963 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 20, 1968.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 15, 2024.
Severe weather in Hillsborough County since 1996
Hillsborough County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County had 201,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,660 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Manchester itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Manchester
29 public schools with 13,044 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Memorial High School | 9-12 | 1,355 | 14.1 |
| Manchester Central High School | 9-12 | 1,127 | 12.7 |
| Middle School At Parkside | 5-8 | 801 | 9.7 |
| Hillside Middle School | 6-8 | 772 | 11.2 |
| Manchester West High School | 9-12 | 771 | 13.5 |
| Southside Middle School | 5-8 | 741 | 9.6 |
| Henry J. McLaughlin Jr. Middle School | 6-8 | 679 | 10.0 |
| Weston Elementary School | PK-5 | 507 | 13.0 |
| Northwest Elementary School | K-4 | 501 | 11.9 |
| Beech Street School | K-5 | 469 | 10.2 |
| McDonough School | PK-5 | 457 | 10.9 |
| Jewett School | PK-4 | 453 | 13.3 |
Towns near Manchester
- South Hooksett, NH3.1 mi · 5,888 people · home $433,200
- Pinardville, NH3.7 mi · 5,034 people · home $286,300
- Auburn, NH4.0 mi · 5,946 people · home $600,300
- Bedford, NH5.8 mi · 23,322 people · home $612,100
- Goffstown, NH6.1 mi · 18,577 people · home $377,400
- Hooksett, NH6.7 mi · 14,871 people · home $407,000
- Candia, NH7.2 mi · 4,013 people · home $415,600
- Hooksett, NH7.5 mi · 5,283 people · home $348,100
Manchester questions
Is Manchester, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manchester scores better for retirees than 1% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 1%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Manchester is valued at $365,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,007, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,564 a month.
What is the weather like in Manchester?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 13.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 52.8 inches of snow.
Does Manchester get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 9, 1963. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)