Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Newark?

Newark, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $56,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Newark?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Nashua vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Newark, DE is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 23% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Newark, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,649

+46% in Newark, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,391

+1% in Newark, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,513

+11% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,916

+2% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$357,600

+4% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$71,373

+23% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$54,310

+4% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

22.0 yr

+17.7 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

50.3%

+6.1 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

57.5%

+17.0 pp in Newark, DE

Avg Commute

25.3 min

19.6 min

+5.7 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

326.3

+98% in Newark, DE

Property Crime

1,269

2,024.6

+60% in Newark, DE

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

54.9°F

+5.7°F in Newark, DE

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

43.1 in

+1.5 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

19.3

+29% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$29.73

+37% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Newark, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / DE)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.60%

+6.6 pp in DE

Nashua vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Newark?: Newark, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Newark?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).