- Manchester England is generally a city people recognize in the States, and I'd say more so in Manchester, NH for sure. While people might not know a lot about Manchester in the UK, I'd say most would know that it was formerly a famous industrial manufacturing capital, and is in the north of England, and is one of the country's largest cities.

- We also use Mancurian.

- While we are obviously named after your city, it was previously called Derryfield. It was changed to Manchester when we became a major textile manufacturer in the 19th century specifically to evoke the industrial success of your Manchester. So we also have a history of being associated with major mill-style manufacturing through at least the first half of the 20th century.

- Americans are often wildly ignorant about their own geography, so some people don't even seem to know New Hampshire is even a State or can't place its location. Most will understand NH is a state though, that it is in New England, North of Mass, and many will recognize Manchester. If nothing else, every 4 years presidential election coverage focuses on NH as the first state to hold its "influential" primary votes for the two major political parties. Manchester being our largest city means most of the that news and campaigns are based out of here. Growing up here I've personally met a many major Presidential candidates and future Presidents as a result.

- Anyone in the New England region will definitely be familiar with Manchester, NH. When telling someone from another part of the country I would always say, "Manchester, NH" it's not specific enough to simply say, "Manchester".

- A few times a year I will get a confusing Google result for Manchester UK before I realize what's happened.

- Manchester is a small city, but the largest North of Boston in New England. Vermont and Maine's largest and most metropolitan cities are much smaller

- New Hampshire is primarily known for its outdoors. Manchester being its most urban location, often gets a lot of shit-talk from "country folk" that seem to have a wild lack of perspective on how safe and and well managed it actually is, at least by comparison to pretty much anywhere else in United States. NH is one of the safest places in America, and usually comes in first or second in terms of most educated, and first or second in terms of least religious.

- While Manchester is more urban than anywhere else in NH, it's not necessarily more metropolitan. It's come a huge way in the last 20 years from what it was in terms of diversity, good restaurants, the arts, etc. However, there are much smaller cities and towns in NH that do a much better job with the arts, local music scenes, independent businesses, and exciting cuisine, stuff for families to do, etc. But again, there's isn't a poverty of that stuff here, and it is always improving here and more rapidly as a number of local colleges have significantly expanded, as well as a booming tech industry bringing in younger professional with expendable income from all over the country. But just pointing out that some our smaller communities have done a better job over the years at fostering these aspects over our largest city.

- With the above mentioned growth, one major issue right now is a serious housing crisis. While this is an issue nationwide, it's especially acute in NH which became a desirable location during the pandemic. Right now in town there is 0.4% vacancy rate for rental properties. It's incredibly hard to find anywhere to live, never mind something affordable if you're renting. For those who would like to buy, many have been similarly priced out. I managed to sneak a great deal on a condo in during the pandemic but am watching a lot of peers, capable adults with good income, struggle with this. Never mind other friends and citizens at large with much lower incomes. Homelessness and what to do with the ever-growing population that isn't housed and their camps is a major issue. Much of that is related to addiction, with now increasing costs of living and scarce housing contributing even further. In the last decade Manchester has been used by more than one new outlet an illustrative example in of communities struggling with opioid addiction.

Sorry end of a slight bummer, but that's a little primer on Manchester, NH based on your questions. :)

Cheers!

Call the GOAT in Manchester and ask. That location previously had a mechanical bull before it changed to the current owners. Not sure if they kept it, but wouldn't surprise me if they did given the "country party" vibe they seem to be going for there. Wally's in Hampton also definitely used to have one, but unsure if they still do.

I know locals with lots of local knowledge and connections in the community who can't find a decent one bedroom apartment in town, never mind a house. Actual whole house rentals are much more rare in the area than apartments regardless of the current lack of vacancy. Most single family houses are owner-occupied, though there are a lot of houses divided into multi-family apartment rental scenarios. But whole houses for rent are not as common for rental options as apartments in the best of times.

I don't mean to be discouraging, just saying this is a problem for everyone and the pickings really are that slim even at the level of apartments.

Keep being persistent, and while it's an unfortunate pain in the ass, consider making a Facebook account if you don't have one, so you can browse listings on Facebook Marketplace as well. A lot rentals get listed there that might not get listed on the real estate sites, and it's less scammy/spammy than Craiglist these days.