Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Nashua leads 12 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,766
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Homes cost $1310k less ($344,900 vs $1,654,800)
79% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.1%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $18,031/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $18,031 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Nashua
Violent Crime
79% lower
160.5 vs 778.0 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$1310k less
$344,900 vs $1,654,800
Nashua
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Nashua
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$18,031
$106,797 vs $88,766/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 92,168 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.4% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Nashua is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 12 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 12 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($88,766 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,582 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.