Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 22 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
New Haven
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $34,461 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than New Haven
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($236,500 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $195/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $34,461/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$34,461
$88,766 vs $54,305/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
70% lower
160.5 vs 534.8 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
New Haven
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$108k less
$236,500 vs $344,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 135,736 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 22 categories. Nashua wins 13 and New Haven wins 9. 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 Nashua to New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $236,500 median home), income ($88,766 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and New Haven, CT are about 124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.