City comparison
Manchester, NH vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 9.6% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $109,600 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Manchester, NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.7% moving from Manchester, NH to Wilmington, NC ($120,548 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.2% in real buying power.
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Manchester, NH | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.7 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,259 in Wilmington | $109,578 in Manchester |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,552/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NH) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,530 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Manchester-Nashua, NH and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Manchester | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 134.2 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 97.7 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 103.7 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 105.7 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Manchester, NH → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
99 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Manchester, NH is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Manchester, NH to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Manchester, NH | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Manchester → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,722 | −3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,678 | −3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,508 | −3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,437 | −3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $125,776 | −3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Manchester, NH | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Manchester dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $73,380 | $48,240 | $52,860 (−28.0%) |
| Software Developers | $162,090 | $123,730 | $135,580 (−16.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,660 | $77,920 | $85,383 (+2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,600 | $80,970 | $88,725 (−10.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.