Living Cost Compare
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/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 $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Nashua, NH is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 5% higher in South Burlington, VT. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,557
+38% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,383
$1,533
+11% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,699
$1,805
+6% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,951
$2,356
+21% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$373,100
$399,600
+7% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$92,457
$97,229
+5% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,530
$60,020
+6% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
38.8 yr
+0.9 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
56.4%
60.1%
+3.7 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.5%
65.1%
+24.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
25.3 min
18.9 min
+6.4 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
164.9
239.4
+45% in South Burlington, VT
Property Crime
1,269
4,446
+250% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+3.2°F in Nashua, NH
Annual Precipitation
44.6 in
36.8 in
+7.8 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.0
24.4
+10% in Nashua, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.67
$26.07
+20% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / VT)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Nashua vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or South Burlington?
Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or South Burlington?
Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).