Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 18 of 23 categories
Downey
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Nashua, NH
Pros
Homes cost $334k less ($344,900 vs $679,000)
65% less violent crime than Downey
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Nashua
Median Income
$4,530
$88,766 vs $84,236/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
65% lower
160.5 vs 460.5 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$334k less
$344,900 vs $679,000
Nashua
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Nashua
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Nashua is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 18 of 23 categories. Downey wins 5 and Nashua wins 18. 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 Downey to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $344,900 median home), income ($84,236 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Nashua, NH are about 2,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.