Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Nashua leads 16 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $42,306 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (5.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,597)
Homes cost $33k less ($312,300 vs $344,900)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $42,306/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Nashua
Median Income
$42,306
$88,766 vs $46,460/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
72% lower
160.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
5.1% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$33k less
$312,300 vs $344,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Nashua is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 16 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 16 and Newark wins 7. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $312,300 median home), income ($88,766 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Newark, NJ are about 197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.