Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,766
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
90,943
Norwalk
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($344,900 vs $491,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,597 vs $1,861)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $9,113/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Norwalk, CT
Pros
47% less violent crime than Nashua
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,113 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Home Value
$147k less
$344,900 vs $491,800
Nashua
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 106.1 on the COL index
Norwalk
Median Income
$9,113
$97,879 vs $88,766/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
47% lower
85.0 vs 160.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 91,050 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 40.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Nashua is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 13 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $491,800 median home), income ($88,766 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Norwalk, CT are about 151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.