Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Nashua?

Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Nashua?

Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Naperville vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/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 $1,800 in Naperville, IL versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Nashua, NH is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 39% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Naperville, IL

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,713

$1,127

+34% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,594

$1,383

+13% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,889

$1,699

+10% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$2,446

$1,951

+20% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$509,900

$373,100

+27% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$150,937

$92,457

+39% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$56,530

+3% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

39.7 yr

+0.4 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

74.3%

56.4%

+17.9 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

71.7%

40.5%

+31.2 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

31.4 min

25.3 min

+6.1 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

85.7

164.9

+92% in Nashua, NH

Property Crime

892.2

1,269

+42% in Nashua, NH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

49.9°F

49.2°F

+0.7°F in Naperville, IL

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

44.6 in

+7.7 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Nashua, NH

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.9

27.0

+36% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.71

$21.67

+10% in Nashua, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NH)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

None

+5.0 pp in IL

Naperville vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Nashua?: Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Nashua?: Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).