Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,597)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Median income trails Nashua by $10,220/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Nashua, NH
Pros
47% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $72k less ($344,900 vs $416,500)
Households earn $10,220 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Ann Arbor
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.1% unemployment
Nashua
Median Income
$10,220
$88,766 vs $78,546/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
47% lower
160.5 vs 302.5 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$72k less
$344,900 vs $416,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 40.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 52.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 10 and Nashua wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Ann Arbor to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $344,900 median home), income ($78,546 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Nashua, NH are about 624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.