Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or New Haven?

New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or New Haven?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Nashua vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, New Haven, CT is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 42% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,159

+3% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,275

+8% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,473

+13% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,636

+16% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$249,000

+33% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$53,771

+42% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$60,060

+6% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

31.9 yr

+7.8 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

28.4%

+28.0 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

37.7%

+2.8 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

21.0 min

+4.3 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

536.3

+225% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

1,269

3,601.6

+184% in New Haven, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

49.2°F

52.2°F

+3.0°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

47.1 in

+2.5 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

24.3

+10% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$23.33

+8% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / CT)

None

6.35%

+6.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.99%

+7.0 pp in CT

Nashua vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or New Haven?: New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or New Haven?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).