| Index | Nashua | New Hampshire | National |
| Cost of living | 116 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Housing | 146 | 125 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 106 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 105 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 108 | 105 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Nashua is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Nashua is 116, which is 16% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Nashua cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 45.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 12 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Nashua and this is how they responded. 17% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 83% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Nashua an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Nashua, the median home price is 50% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 35.6% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Nashua come in at $108,197, which is 33% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Nashua, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 0%, and income tax rates kick off at 4%.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Nashua, the housing index comes in at 45.6% higher than the national average.
The Nashua cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
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| Utilities index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $146,336 | $12,195 | $3,414 | $4,391 |
| Renters | $74,024 | $6,169 | $1,727 | $2,221 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| New Hampshire | 0% | 0% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| New Hampshire | 4% | 4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| East Merrimack, NH | 4,959 | 108 | 8.3% |
| Townsend, MA | 1,311 | 114 | 14.3% |
| Shirley, MA | 1,758 | 116 | 16.3% |
| Hudson, NH | 7,386 | 111 | 11.2% |
| Derry, NH | 23,398 | 112 | 12.3% |
| Nashua, NH | 91,471 | 116 | 16.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Maple Ridge, BC | 91,475 | n/a | |
| Norwalk, CT | 91,485 | 142 | 42.4% |
| Fall River, MA | 91,437 | 119 | 19.1% |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 91,527 | 140 | 40.4% |
| Chino, CA | 91,540 | 154 | 54.2% |
| Nashua, NH | 91,471 | 116 | 16.5% |
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