Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
11
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $212/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 85°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Nashua by $24,740/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Nashua, NH
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($344,900 vs $528,600)
54% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $24,740 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Nashua
Median Income
$24,740
$88,766 vs $64,026/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
54% lower
160.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$184k less
$344,900 vs $528,600
Nashua
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 40.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Nashua wins 11. 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 Bellingham to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $344,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Nashua, NH are about 2,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.