Rent vs buy in Nashua, NH

In Nashua, New Hampshire, the typical rent is $2,278 /mo and the typical home costs $503,469.

Rent

Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $31k

Using Nashua's typical rent and home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You'll break even in year 11.

An opinion, clearly labeled, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes whenever you change a number.

How far renting is ahead: $31k
Break-even point: In year 11
Actual cost of owning: $4,649 each month

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The stamp works from Nashua's numbers: typical rent and home value. Your rent, price and years can reverse the result.

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Which costs less in Nashua, renting or buying?

If you count the money you get back when you sell, renting costs $31,107 less over 7 years. During the first 10 years, renting costs less. In year 11, owning catches up.

Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.

Nashua's average rent compared with its mortgage payment

At Nashua's typical price, year 1 has costs beyond rent and the mortgage. Here are all monthly costs.

Each month, year 1	Amount	What it is
Rent	$2,278	All of it, every month
Mortgage payment	$2,745	$2,419 of it is interest in year 1
Property tax	$705	1.68% of the value a year
Insurance	$77	Census median for the city
Upkeep	$420	1% of the value a year
Owning, cash out	$3,946	$325 of it builds equity
Lost return on the down payment	$818	What the cash would earn each year, at 8.3%
Buying costs, spread out	$210	3.5% of the price over 7 years
True cost of owning	$4,649	Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus the two amounts listed above

The figures behind Nashua's result

Typical home value from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026: $503,469
Typical rent from Zillow ZORI, September 2026: $2,278 each month
With 20% down, you avoid private mortgage insurance. The engine doesn't model this cost.: 20%
Mortgage rate from Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US): 7.24%
Growth in home prices is measured by the FHFA house price index, New Hampshire, 1995 through 2025.: 5.3% each year
Rent growth: CPI for primary residence rent, yearly growth from 2006 to 2026: Each year, 3.5%
Return on savings60% in S&P 500, including dividends, plus 40% in 10-year Treasuries; the portfolio is rebalanced yearly from 1928 to 2025: Each year, 8.3%
Property taxTax data: Census ACS 2020-2024, Nashua: 1.68% of the value
Home insuranceInsurance data: Census ACS 2020-2024, Nashua: $77 each month
MaintenanceFannie Mae, 1% to 4%, low end: Each year, 1% of the value
Buying costs: Freddie Mac estimate, midpoint of 2% to 5%: 3.5% applies to the price
Selling expensesAgent commission plus closing costs: 6% of the price

What would flip the Nashua result?

Each line marks where Nashua's 7-year verdict changes, while everything else stays as it is.

Renting comes out ahead when

Our calculation applies 5.3%, which is New Hampshire's long-run rate. For that result, home prices grow by less than 6.0% a year.
The mortgage rate remains above 6.14%.
For a home like this, monthly rent is less than $2,610, with a typical local rent of $2,278.
Your move happens before year 11

Home buying comes out ahead when

Home prices grow at more than 6.0% a year.
A mortgage rate below 6.14% is what you lock in (today's is 7.24%).
The same home would cost more than $2,610 a month to rent.
You remain for 11 years or longer.

Nashua compared with the other 812 cities

Measure	Nashua	Median city
Typical home value	$503,469	$422,451
Typical rent	$2,278 /mo	$1,837 /mo
Price-to-rent ratio	18.4 (#412 of 813)	18.5
Home prices, last 10 years	7.6% a year	6.2% a year
Rents, last 5 years	4.6% a year	4% a year
Property tax	1.68%	0.87%
Households that rent	44%	42%

The figures come from Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.

Other New Hampshire cities

In Manchester, NH, renting saves $15k compared with buying.

New Hampshire: rent and buy compared