Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Sparks
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
59% less violent crime than Sparks
Homes cost $79k less ($344,900 vs $423,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,828 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sparks
Sparks, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.1%)
Median income trails Nashua by $5,828/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$5,828
$88,766 vs $82,938/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
59% lower
160.5 vs 394.4 per 100k
Nashua
Median Home Value
$79k less
$344,900 vs $423,500
Nashua
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 13 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $423,500 median home), income ($88,766 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Sparks, NV are about 2,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.