Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Reading
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $45,914 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (5.1%)
52% less violent crime than Reading
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Reading
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($96,900 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $655/mo less ($942 vs $1,597)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $45,914/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$45,914
$88,766 vs $42,852/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
52% lower
160.5 vs 337.2 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
5.1% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$248k less
$96,900 vs $344,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 94,601 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 14 and Reading wins 9. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $96,900 median home), income ($88,766 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Reading, PA are about 283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.