Manchester Apartments and Rentals

Manchester, named after the great industrial city of England, is the largest city in New England north of Boston. True to its name, Manchester did become an industrial center of the region, and remained primarily a textile mill town until 20 years ago. The city's history as an affluent mill town has left behind some of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the state. Once named the "Number One Small City in the East" by Money magazine, Manchester has only improved in recent years, through downtown revitalization efforts and a Neighborhood Initiatives program, which provides for street-scape and infrastructure improvements to the 25 unique neighborhood communities throughout the city. With a diverse population of nearly 110,000, Manchester offers a variety of classic New England homes and apartments to rent.

Although only an hour north of Boston, Manchester is anything but a commuter town. As the largest city in New Hampshire, Manchester has its own thriving economy and culture. Built along the banks of the Merrimack River as an industrial town in the early 19th century, Manchester has experienced steady growth since its boom in the 1840's and 1850's. Much of this initial growth was due to immigrant factory workers, leaving large populations of French, Irish, English, Italian and German ancestry. In recent years, many of the old tenement housing in downtown Manchester, originally built for mill workers in the 19th century, have been converted to stylish, urban residential units available to rent.

With no sales or income tax, Manchester is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in New England, and has been rated by CNN as the 13th best place to live and launch a business in America. There are plenty of reasons to make a Manchester apartment or rental your home.

As New Hampshire and northern New England's business and financial capital, Manchester serves as the regional headquarters for several banks, engineering and design firms, utilities, and law firms. Many other industries, including medical, electronics, information technology and manufacturing, have set up shop in Manchester due to the abundance of commercial space and business-friendly tax laws. With a much lower unemployment rate than the rest of the country, working in Manchester is easy, regardless of the skills you possess. And considering about 75% of the city's commuters spend less than an hour traveling to work each day, you'll find yourself with plenty of extra time to take advantage of all the region has to offer.

As the largest college town in New Hampshire, Manchester is home to eleven colleges and universities educating more than 15,000 students. For liberal arts degrees, the University of New Hampshire's Manchester campus is located in the former machine shop of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company on the banks of the Merrimack River. The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, which has run a campus in downtown Manchester since 2002, offers traditional and accelerated programs for aspiring health professionals. Even the artistic among us can improve their crafts by studying at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, which offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in various concentrations. Most students attending the city's institutions of higher learning choose to live off-campus, due to the abundance of hip and eclectic Manchester apartments for rent.

Though the cost of living is slightly higher than the national average, Manchester has actually been ranked by Forbes at the top of its "America's 100 Cheapest Places to Live" list. As the largest city in New Hampshire, which is ranked the safest and most livable state in the country with the highest standard of living and the most favorable overall tax climate, Manchester offers an unsurpassed quality of life for any budget or family type. With one-bedroom rentals averaging just below $900 per month and two-bedrooms just about $1000, whether you're interested in the stately Victorians and tree-lined streets of the North End, the rehabilitated row houses in the trendy High D neighborhood, or the luxury high-rise apartments and riverfront condos of downtown Manchester, it's easy to find a home or apartment within your price range.

Once known snidely as ManchVegas, for its lack of entertainment options, Manchester now prides itself as the center of arts and culture in central New England. The Currier Museum of Art, home to works of acclaimed artists such as Picasso and Monet, and the Zimmerman House, which is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in New England open to the public, offer stunning visual exhibits of arts and architecture. The Millyard Museum and the SEE Science Center are fun and educational for the whole family. For live entertainment, the recently constructed Verizon Wireless Arena seats more than 10,000 spectators and hosts nationally touring musicians and comedians, as well as local sporting events. The historic Palace Theatre, first opened in 1915, now features professional theater, opera, dance and comedy.

For day-to-day entertainment, Manchester contains hundreds of acres of park land, four public swimming pools, two indoor hockey arenas, a public golf course and the McIntyre Ski Area, for recreational skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Those who like to shop will enjoy the Mall of New Hampshire, featuring nearly one million square feet of retail space, and downtown Manchester, specializing in boutique shops with local flavor. Manchester boasts a variety of eateries to choose from, including The Red Arrow, once ranked among the top ten diners in the nation. Regardless of your interests, fun will never be far from your Manchester apartment or home.

Downtown Manchester's historic Elm Street acts as the stage for many community events throughout the year. From the Saint Patrick's Day parade in spring, to the Summer Music Festival and local farmer's markets all summer long, the "Cruising Downtown" classic car show and Taste of Manchester each fall and the annual Christmas parade at the end of the year, each season in Manchester is full of special events the whole family can enjoy. And if you rent in one of the new or converted buildings along the waterfront or in downtown, the action will only be minutes away from your doorstep.

Look no further than Manchester if you're looking to enjoy the beauty of New England with the best atmosphere in the region for work or play. Come discover how Rent.com® can help you easily find the rental apartment or home that fits your needs.