What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).

Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nashua	Strafford
People
Population	91,294Highest	4,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2%	17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nashua and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Strafford and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Strafford and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH
	Strafford and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH
	Strafford and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH	$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH
	Nashua and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Highest about the NH average	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8%	15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Nashua and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 120 in NH	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashua School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	Nashua High School South	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.