Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 48% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,111

+1% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$978

+29% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,386

+18% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,695

+13% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$337,800

+9% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$48,416

+48% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$61,430

+9% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

34.8 yr

+4.9 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

24.1%

+32.3 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

17.4%

+23.1 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

33.2 min

+7.9 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

582.5

+253% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,269

1,961.8

+55% in Newark, NJ

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, NJ

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

46.3 in

+1.7 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

24.9

+8% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$17.68

+18% in Nashua, NH

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 / NJ)

None

6.625%

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in NJ

Nashua vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).