Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 17 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
17
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Nashua, NH
Pros
67% less violent crime than Kent
Homes cost $134k less ($344,900 vs $478,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Nashua
Median Income
$1,800
$88,766 vs $86,966/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
67% lower
160.5 vs 489.7 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$134k less
$344,900 vs $478,400
Nashua
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Nashua
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Nashua is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 17 of 23 categories. Kent wins 6 and Nashua wins 17. 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 Kent to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $344,900 median home), income ($86,966 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Nashua, NH are about 2,452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.