Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Springfield?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 50% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$760

+33% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$772

+44% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$926

+45% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,158

+41% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$165,200

+56% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$45,984

+50% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$45,780

+19% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

33.6 yr

+6.1 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

42.9%

+13.5 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

30.3%

+10.2 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

18.0 min

+7.3 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

1,189.8

+622% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

1,269

4,231.6

+233% in Springfield, MO

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

56.3°F

+7.1°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

45.6 in

+1.0 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Nashua, NH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

16.2

+40% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$28.78

+33% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / MO)

None

4.225%

+4.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.70%

+4.7 pp in MO

Nashua vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Springfield?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).