Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 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
Springfield
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $45,316 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 17% higher than Springfield
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($146,400 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $719/mo less ($878 vs $1,597)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $45,316/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$45,316
$88,766 vs $43,450/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
86% lower
160.5 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$199k less
$146,400 vs $344,900
Springfield
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 14 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $146,400 median home), income ($88,766 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Springfield, MO are about 1,212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.