Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Nashua leads 15 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $27,401 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 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
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Rent averages $383/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,597)
Homes cost $52k less ($293,000 vs $344,900)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $27,401/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$27,401
$88,766 vs $61,365/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
42% lower
160.5 vs 276.7 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$52k less
$293,000 vs $344,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 15 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 15 and Providence wins 8. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $293,000 median home), income ($88,766 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Providence, RI are about 64 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.