Nashua NH downtown

2021 Top 100 Best Places to Live In America Sponsored by:

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
661
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 59
Demographics 53
Economy 58
Education 52
Health 62
Housing 65
Infrastructure 41

#90. Nashua, NH

Situated in southern New Hampshire, right along the state line with Massachusetts, Nashua is an ideal place to raise a family, launch or grow your career, start a business, learn a new skill, meet new people – or all of the above. This mid-sized city, home to 90,000 people, has a strong economy, world-class health care and a welcoming attitude. Plus, it offers quick and easy access to Boston (the city is less than an hour away by car!). There are tons of diverse neighborhoods and housing types to choose from here, too, so no matter your budget or your lifestyle, you’re sure to find the perfect place to call home in Nashua.

Top Colleges/Universities: Nashua Community College & Rivier University

Top Industries & Employers: Health care and electronics 

Weekend Plans: Shopping at Pheasant Lane Mall (there’s no sales tax in New Hampshire!) or catching a Nashua Silver Knights baseball game at Holman Stadium.

Favorite Place to Feast: Stella Blu, which makes a mean martini and delicious small plates.

Beloved Beverage: Sour craft beers at White Birch Brewing.

Outdoorsy Activity: Walking, biking, fishing or cross-country skiing at Mine Falls Park, a gorgeous 325-acre oasis in the middle of the city.  

Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: Dog-loving Nashua residents decided to form their own all-volunteer nonprofit group to help find a site for an off-leash dog park. The group opened the members-only, self-funded, 3-acre Nashua Dog Park in 2012 and continues to maintain it today. Talk about canine community involvement! 

Remote Work Perk: If you want to meet new people and learn a new hobby or skill, head to MakeIt Labs, the first and largest makerspace in New Hampshire. Members can take classes, socialize in the lounge and collaborate on projects together ranging from woodworking to 3-D printing. There’s also a coworking area, including offices and open-concept cubicles.

One More Thing … Nashua was a big hub for the textile industry from the early 1800s into the mid-1940s, thanks in large part to the Nashua Manufacturing Company. Though the company shut down in the 1940s, residents of Nashua can still get a taste of the city’s textile history by living in one of six apartments that used to be the company’s cotton mill buildings.

– Sarah Kuta

Find a Home in Nashua, NH

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