Nashua NH vs San Francisco CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Nashua, NH

New Hampshire · Population: 91,131

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

San Francisco, CA

California · Population: 836,321

  • Median HH Income$141,446
  • Median Home Price$1,369,171
  • Unemployment5.6%
  • Bachelor's+60.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Nashua
91,131
San Francisco
836,321
San Francisco +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Nashua
N/A
San Francisco
N/A
Median Age
Nashua
39.7
San Francisco
39.7
Tie
Foreign Born
Nashua
16.4%
San Francisco
34.2%
San Francisco +
White
Nashua
75.1%
Nashua +
San Francisco
40.5%
Black
Nashua
2.6%
San Francisco
5.1%
San Francisco +
Asian
Nashua
7.6%
San Francisco
35.0%
San Francisco +
Hispanic
Nashua
14.0%
San Francisco
15.9%
San Francisco +
Spanish at Home
Nashua
N/A
San Francisco
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Nashua
$92,457
San Francisco
$141,446
San Francisco +
Per Capita Income
Nashua
$50,026
San Francisco
$90,285
San Francisco +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Nashua
$75,331
San Francisco
$77,230
San Francisco +
Unemployment Rate
Nashua
4.8%
Nashua +
San Francisco
5.6%
Poverty Rate
Nashua
7.1%
Nashua +
San Francisco
10.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Nashua
40.5%
San Francisco
60.1%
San Francisco +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Nashua
$507,692
Nashua +
San Francisco
$1,369,171
Homeownership Rate
Nashua
56.4%
Nashua +
San Francisco
38.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Nashua
134
Nashua +
San Francisco
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Nashua
1048
Nashua +
San Francisco
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Nashua
33.2%
San Francisco
17.5%
San Francisco +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Nashua
9.4%
Nashua +
San Francisco
9.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Nashua
15.5%
San Francisco
14.5%
San Francisco +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Nashua
8.8%
San Francisco
6.6%
San Francisco +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Nashua
15.7%
Nashua +
San Francisco
19.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Nashua
10.9%
San Francisco
9.1%
San Francisco +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Nashua
47.7°F
Nashua +
San Francisco
55.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Nashua
48.0 in
San Francisco
20.7 in
San Francisco +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Nashua
27.6 min
Nashua +
San Francisco
33.9 min

Which City is Right for You?

San Francisco leads in median household income at $141,446, while nashua offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $507,692. On public safety, Nashua is safer with a violent crime rate of 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Francisco. 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, San Francisco scores better with a lower obesity rate of 17.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Nashua & San Francisco