Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
10
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.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
Rent averages $80/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,597)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Median income trails Nashua by $4,875/yr
Nashua, NH
Pros
55% less violent crime than Charleston
Homes cost $94k less ($344,900 vs $438,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $4,875 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 3.7%)
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.1% unemployment
Nashua
Median Income
$4,875
$88,766 vs $83,891/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
55% lower
160.5 vs 357.6 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$94k less
$344,900 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 40.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 13 and Nashua wins 10. 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 Charleston to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $344,900 median home), income ($83,891 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Nashua, NH are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.