Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Raleigh
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
67% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,135 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Raleigh
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Rent averages $226/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,597)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 35°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Nashua by $10,135/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$10,135
$88,766 vs $78,631/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
67% lower
160.5 vs 488.8 per 100k
Raleigh
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.1% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 10 and Raleigh wins 13. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $347,000 median home), income ($88,766 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Raleigh, NC are about 612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.