Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Nashua, NH is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 27% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,127
+50% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,383
+45% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,699
+43% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,951
+41% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$373,100
+64% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$92,457
+27% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$56,530
+15% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
39.7 yr
+9.2 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
33.7%
56.4%
+22.7 pp in Nashua, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
40.5%
+39.7 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
25.3 min
+0.8 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
164.9
+62% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
1,269
+52% in Cambridge, MA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
49.2°F
+2.3°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
44.6 in
+0.8 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
27.0
+9% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$21.67
+29% in Cambridge, MA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / NH)
6.25%
None
+6.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
None
+9.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Nashua?
Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Nashua?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Nashua?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).