Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Worcester?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 27% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,087

+4% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,028

+26% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,476

+13% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,675

+14% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$339,500

+9% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$67,544

+27% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$57,830

+2% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

34.1 yr

+5.6 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

42.4%

+14.0 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

34.1%

+6.4 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

25.1 min

+0.2 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

640.2

+288% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

1,269

1,580.3

+25% in Worcester, MA

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

47.9°F

+1.3°F in Nashua, NH

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

48.1 in

+3.5 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

29.6

+10% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$30.66

+41% in Worcester, MA

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 / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Nashua vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Worcester?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).