Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 16 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
16
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($203,900 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $27,132/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Nashua, NH
Pros
82% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Households earn $27,132 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.1%)
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 11% higher than Grand Rapids
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$141k less
$203,900 vs $344,900
Nashua
Median Income
$27,132
$88,766 vs $61,634/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
82% lower
160.5 vs 910.1 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 52.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 16 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids wins 7 and Nashua wins 16. 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 Grand Rapids to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $344,900 median home), income ($61,634 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Nashua, NH are about 717 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.