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Living in
Nashua.
About
Life in Nashua
If you're thinking about moving to Nashua, you're looking at a genuinely livable mid-sized city that's quietly become one of New England's job markets—not a tourist town dressed up as one. With a population just over 91,000, it's the second-largest city in northern New England, but it still has a real, working-city feel rather than the polished atmosphere of somewhere trying to attract visitors. The economy here actually shifted decades ago from its textile roots to finance, professional services, high tech, and defense; BAE Systems and other tech firms keep the job market solid, and the unemployment rate sits at a healthy 3.9 percent.
Nashua at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.8%
Foreign-Born
17.2%
Broadband Internet
93.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Nashua: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Nashua, the largest foreign-born group is from India (22.9%), and 10.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
41.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 16% above NH average
Rent, home values, and income in Nashua
In Nashua, rent runs 16% above the NH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,799
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $503,469 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above NH average
Unemployment in Nashua
Unemployment in Nashua is 0.7 percentage points higher than the NH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Nashua Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26 min avg
How Nashua residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Nashua, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
Small hub686k passengers boarded in 2025
- 36 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Nashua runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
109.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,030.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Nashua Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hillsborough, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hillsborough County, which includes Nashua, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $24,000 |
| 2024 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2023 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $39,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $220,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Heavy Snow | $225,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hillsborough County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hillsborough County, which includes Nashua, is typically good — 310 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
310
per year
Moderate Days
51
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hillsborough County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Nashua has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.3"
Annual Snowfall
52.9"
Hot Days/Year
27
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
149
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 14°F | 3.00" |
| Feb | 38°F | 16°F | 3.07" |
| Mar | 45°F | 24°F | 4.11" |
| Apr | 58°F | 35°F | 3.91" |
| May | 69°F | 46°F | 3.63" |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 4.19" |
| Jul | 85°F | 62°F | 3.63" |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 3.71" |
| Sep | 75°F | 52°F | 4.15" |
| Oct | 62°F | 39°F | 4.66" |
| Nov | 51°F | 29°F | 3.74" |
| Dec | 40°F | 20°F | 4.45" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Nashua
Nashua has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
8.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
St Joseph Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Southern Nh Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Lowell General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.4 mi away · Lowell
Parkland Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.5 mi away · Derry
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.6 mi away · Ayer
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Nashua
Nashua's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 41.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
24
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Nashua
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,231 students · in-state tuition $41,288 · 62% graduate · median earnings $72,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 1,135 students · in-state tuition $7,590 · 32% graduate · median earnings $53,357 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
10.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,434 students · in-state tuition $17,664 · 68% graduate · median earnings $77,989 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Nashua
Nashua has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lowell National Historical Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
31 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
32 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
34 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayPublic Libraries in Nashua
Nashua Public Library
2 Court Street, Nashua
Cities Near Nashua
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Nashua?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Nashua FAQ
Is Nashua, New Hampshire affordable?⌄
Nashua's median rent is $1,737/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $96,326/year. Median home value is $403,900.
Is Nashua, New Hampshire safe?⌄
Nashua's violent crime rate was 110 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1030 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Nashua, New Hampshire?⌄
Nashua has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Nashua, New Hampshire?⌄
The cost of living in Nashua is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,737/month and median household income is $96,326/year. The median home value is $403,900. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Nashua, New Hampshire?⌄
The average commute in Nashua is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from