Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ 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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($86,200 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($830 vs $1,597)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $47,323/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.1%)
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $47,323 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
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
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Dayton
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$259k less
$86,200 vs $344,900
Nashua
Median Income
$47,323
$88,766 vs $41,443/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
88% lower
160.5 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.1% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton 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 Dayton to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $344,900 median home), income ($41,443 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Nashua, NH are about 690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.