Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 23 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
North Charleston
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
80% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $30,232 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than North Charleston
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($243,300 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,597)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 35°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $30,232/yr
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$30,232
$88,766 vs $58,534/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
80% lower
160.5 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$102k less
$243,300 vs $344,900
North Charleston
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.1% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 115,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 13 and North Charleston wins 10. 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($88,766 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and North Charleston, SC are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.