Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Nashua?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Nashua?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Nashua?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 52% higher in Nashua, NH. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$630

$1,127

+79% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$841

$1,383

+64% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,699

+73% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,951

+63% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$373,100

+143% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$92,457

+109% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$56,530

+50% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

39.7 yr

+11.0 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

36.5%

56.4%

+19.9 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

40.5%

+5.5 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

17.0 min

25.3 min

+8.3 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

164.9

+26% in Hattiesburg, MS

Property Crime

3,475.7

1,269

+63% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

66.1°F

49.2°F

+16.9°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

44.6 in

+14.6 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Nashua, NH

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

27.0

+82% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$21.67

+25% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NH)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Nashua?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Nashua?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).