Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ 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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,597)
Homes cost $40k less ($304,500 vs $344,900)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashua by $17,093/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.1%)
Nashua, NH
Pros
70% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.1%)
Households earn $17,093 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$40k less
$304,500 vs $344,900
Nashua
Median Income
$17,093
$88,766 vs $71,673/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
70% lower
160.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Nashua
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, 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 | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 40.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago 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 Chicago to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $344,900 median home), income ($71,673 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Nashua, NH are about 829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.