Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Santa Clara
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Homes cost $1095k less ($344,900 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1244/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,841)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $76,586/yr
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $76,586 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.1 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Nashua
Violent Crime
12% lower
160.5 vs 182.0 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$1095k less
$344,900 vs $1,440,200
Nashua
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$76,586
$165,352 vs $88,766/yr
Santa Clara
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Nashua is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 13 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($88,766 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.