Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 19 of 22 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
19
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.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Rent averages $131/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,597)
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashua by $15,758/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Nashua, NH
Pros
70% less violent crime than Lowell
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,758 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Nashua
Median Income
$15,758
$88,766 vs $73,008/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
70% lower
160.5 vs 532.5 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$18k less
$344,900 vs $362,800
Nashua
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 52.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Nashua is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nashua leads 19 of 22 categories. Lowell wins 3 and Nashua wins 19. 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 Lowell to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $344,900 median home), income ($73,008 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Nashua, NH are about 11 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.