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Hartford, CT vs Manchester, NH: Cost of Living

Compare the cost of living between Hartford, CT and Manchester, NH. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.

Source-verified · June 2026BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR) Official source ↗
Source-verified · June 2026BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR) Official source ↗

Hartford, CT

CT

Overall RPP (US=100)
104.9
Housing RPP
108.2
Goods RPP
101.2
2-BR median rent
$1,654/mo

Connecticut income tax 3%-6.99%.

Manchester, NH

NH

Overall RPP (US=100)
108
Housing RPP
132.5
Goods RPP
101.6
2-BR median rent
$1,771/mo

New Hampshire has no income tax on wages.

Equivalent salary

Manchester, NH is more expensive than Hartford, CT by about 3.0% (RPP 104.9 to 108).

$60,000 in Hartford, CT

-> $61,773

in Manchester, NH

$100,000 in Hartford, CT

-> $102,955

in Manchester, NH

$150,000 in Hartford, CT

-> $154,433

in Manchester, NH

This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.

Migration signal: Hartford, CT vs Manchester, NH

IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022

Hartford, CT

Net people
−2,490
Net rank
#36 of 65
Top origin share
11%
Top destination share
8%

Largest source: South Central Connecticut Plannin, CT. Largest destination: Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT.

Manchester, NH

Net people
+58
Net rank
#31 of 65
Top origin share
19%
Top destination share
14%

Largest source: Middlesex County, MA. Largest destination: Rockingham County, NH.

Rent delta: Manchester, NH is $117/mo higher for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Hartford, CT. Housing RPP moves from 108.2 to 132.5.

Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.

Frequently asked questions

Is Manchester, NH cheaper or more expensive than Hartford, CT?
Manchester, NH (RPP 108) is more expensive than Hartford, CT (RPP 104.9) by about 3.0%.
What salary do I need in Manchester, NH if I earn $100,000 in Hartford, CT?
You would need approximately $102,955 in Manchester, NH to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Hartford, CT. Formula: $100,000 x (108 / 104.9).
Which metro had stronger net migration, Hartford, CT or Manchester, NH?
For 2021-2022, Hartford, CT had a net loss of 2,490 people, while Manchester, NH had a net gain of 58 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.

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