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C-

Is Manchester, New Hampshire Safe?

Population 116,818 · Safer than 30% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Manchester, New Hampshire sits below average for US cities. The C- grade comes from a 228.5 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,349 per 100K.

Manchester Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricManchesterNew Hampshire AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate264.2288.0363.8
Property Crime Rate2020.61921.31,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate182.0--268.2
Theft Rate1349.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate234.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC-

228.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

264/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2021/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Manchester

Violent crime in Manchester is below the national average. The rate of 264.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2020.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,349 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Manchester Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault182
068% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery50
079% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary348
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,349
096% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft234
074% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Manchester Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Manchester
264.2
State
288.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Manchester
2020.6
State
1921.3
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Manchester Safety

Is Manchester safe?
Not especially. Manchester earns a C- with a crime rate of 228.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Manchester?
228.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 264.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2020.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Manchester safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Manchester's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,349 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Manchester?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Manchester generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Manchester police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Manchester?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Manchester's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Manchester compare to other cities in New Hampshire?
Below average for the state. Manchester ranks behind about 74% of New Hampshire cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Manchester to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Manchester?
Bad. A C- grade and 228.5 per-thousand rate put Manchester below 70% of US cities. Violent crime at 264 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Manchester?
264.2 per 100,000, which is 27% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (182), robbery (50), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in New Hampshire

Similar-sized communities in New Hampshire. Compare crime rates across the state.

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See crime rates in Portsmouth23,028 pop · Grade B-
View all New Hampshire city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Manchester

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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