Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
14
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($241,600 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $135/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,597)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Median income trails Nashua by $2,823/yr
Nashua, NH
Pros
40% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$103k less
$241,600 vs $344,900
Nashua
Median Income
$2,823
$88,766 vs $85,943/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
40% lower
160.5 vs 266.0 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 60 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 9 and Nashua wins 14. 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 Aurora to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $344,900 median home), income ($85,943 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Nashua, NH are about 860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.