Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ 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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,597)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Homes cost $28k less ($316,600 vs $344,900)
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashua by $14,056/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Nashua, NH
Pros
74% less violent crime than Durham
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,056 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Durham
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$28k less
$316,600 vs $344,900
Durham
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.1% unemployment
Nashua
Median Income
$14,056
$88,766 vs $74,710/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
74% lower
160.5 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 40.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Durham is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $344,900 median home), income ($74,710 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Nashua, NH are about 612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.