Brockton MA vs Nashua NH — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Brockton, MA

Massachusetts · Population: 105,080

  • Median HH Income$77,089
  • Median Home Price$506,468
  • Unemployment8.3%
  • Bachelor's+21.3%

Nashua, NH

New Hampshire · Population: 91,131

  • Median HH Income$92,457
  • Median Home Price$507,692
  • Unemployment4.8%
  • Bachelor's+40.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Brockton
105,080
Brockton +
Nashua
91,131
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Brockton
N/A
Nashua
N/A
Median Age
Brockton
36.5
Brockton +
Nashua
39.7
Foreign Born
Brockton
32.9%
Brockton +
Nashua
16.4%
White
Brockton
29.2%
Nashua
75.1%
Nashua +
Black
Brockton
38.3%
Brockton +
Nashua
2.6%
Asian
Brockton
2.2%
Nashua
7.6%
Nashua +
Hispanic
Brockton
12.9%
Nashua
14.0%
Nashua +
Spanish at Home
Brockton
N/A
Nashua
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Brockton
$77,089
Nashua
$92,457
Nashua +
Per Capita Income
Brockton
$35,524
Nashua
$50,026
Nashua +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Brockton
$85,405
Brockton +
Nashua
$75,331
Unemployment Rate
Brockton
8.3%
Nashua
4.8%
Nashua +
Poverty Rate
Brockton
13.9%
Nashua
7.1%
Nashua +
Bachelor's Degree+
Brockton
21.3%
Nashua
40.5%
Nashua +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Brockton
$506,468
Brockton +
Nashua
$507,692
Homeownership Rate
Brockton
57.0%
Brockton +
Nashua
56.4%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Brockton
326
Nashua
134
Nashua +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Brockton
1086
Nashua
1048
Nashua +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Brockton
35.9%
Nashua
33.2%
Nashua +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Brockton
13.4%
Nashua
9.4%
Nashua +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Brockton
21.4%
Nashua
15.5%
Nashua +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Brockton
8.4%
Brockton +
Nashua
8.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Brockton
15.3%
Brockton +
Nashua
15.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Brockton
17.7%
Nashua
10.9%
Nashua +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Brockton
49.2°F
Nashua
47.7°F
Nashua +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Brockton
49.9 in
Nashua
48.0 in
Nashua +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Brockton
7.2 µg/m³
Nashua
5.9 µg/m³
Nashua +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Brockton
75.0%
Nashua
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Brockton
34.1 min
Nashua
27.6 min
Nashua +

Which City is Right for You?

Nashua leads in median household income at $92,457, while brockton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $506,468. On public safety, Nashua is safer with a violent crime rate of 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to 326 in Brockton. Nashua has a lower unemployment rate at 4.8%, and Nashua has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Nashua scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Brockton & Nashua