Living Cost Compare
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Nashua, NH is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 13% higher in Washington, DC. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,763
+56% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,383
$1,885
+36% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,699
$1,949
+15% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,951
$2,249
+15% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$373,100
$724,600
+94% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$92,457
$106,287
+15% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,530
$71,060
+26% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
34.9 yr
+4.8 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
56.4%
41.1%
+15.3 pp in Nashua, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.5%
63.6%
+23.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
25.3 min
30.3 min
+5.0 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
164.9
936.3
+468% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,269
3,627.9
+186% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+9.0°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
44.6 in
39.7 in
+4.8 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.0
24.4
+10% in Nashua, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.67
$27.28
+26% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.75%
+10.8 pp in DC

Nashua vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Washington?
Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Washington?
Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).