Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashua, NH
Pros
67% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $29,858 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wilmington
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Homes cost $26k less ($318,600 vs $344,900)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $29,858/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$29,858
$88,766 vs $58,908/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
67% lower
160.5 vs 482.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$26k less
$318,600 vs $344,900
Wilmington
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.4% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 10 and Wilmington wins 13. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($88,766 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Wilmington, NC are about 683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.