Nashua is the second-largest city in New Hampshire and one of the largest in northern New England. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city’s population grew 5.6 percent between 2010 and 2020, and current projections place it above 92,000 residents in 2026. The broader Manchester-Nashua metro area now tops 433,000 people. For a region that was largely defined by textile mills a century ago, that trajectory tells a clear story: people and employers keep choosing Nashua.
Jobs Without a State Income Tax
New Hampshire has no state income tax on wages and no general sales tax. For workers relocating from Massachusetts, Connecticut, or other northeastern states, those savings are immediate and substantial. That tax structure has helped attract a base of defense, technology, and healthcare employers to Nashua and the surrounding communities. BAE Systems, one of the world’s largest defense contractors, operates major facilities in Nashua and neighboring Merrimack. The City of Nashua reports that the greater Nashua region supports a workforce of nearly 130,000 people across industries ranging from advanced electronics to healthcare.
According to the NH Business Review, the Manchester-Nashua region posted a 1.1 percent growth rate in private-sector jobs last year — more than double the statewide rate. Nearly half of the net domestic migration into the region was in the 25-to-34 age bracket, drawn by quality rental housing and proximity to Boston-area employers.
Location That Works in Every Direction
Nashua sits at the intersection of the Everett Turnpike and Route 3, with direct access to I-93 and Route 101A. That puts downtown Boston roughly 45 minutes south, the New Hampshire seacoast about an hour east, and the White Mountains roughly 90 minutes north. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is 15 miles away. For commuters working in Lowell, Burlington, or the Route 128 corridor, Nashua offers a manageable daily drive with the benefit of living in a state with a lower overall tax burden.
That location also fuels new construction. Developments like Doucet Landing in south Nashua — an 83-unit detached condominium community — and several new residential projects near Exit 5 on the Everett Turnpike reflect steady demand for housing in neighborhoods with highway access.
Schools, Parks, and a Real Downtown
Nashua’s public schools are rated above average by multiple ranking sources. Higher education options include Rivier University and Nashua Community College. Mine Falls Park, a 325-acre preserve along the Nashua River, offers miles of walking and biking trails just minutes from the city center. Main Street in downtown Nashua hosts more than 100 shops and 35 restaurants, and the city runs a full summer calendar of free events through its SummerFun program, including concerts in Greeley Park and a weekly farmers market.
For families relocating from out of state, these are the details that shape a decision. According to the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS, the Nashua market had a median single-family home price of $535,000 in March 2026, with inventory at just 0.6 months. Homes here do not sit on the market for long.
What Growth Means for Your Move
A city that keeps attracting new residents also keeps its professional movers busy. Whether you are arriving from across the Merrimack River in Lowell or relocating from states like Florida, Texas, or North Carolina, the logistics of your move need to be planned well ahead of time. An in-home or virtual estimate allows your move coordinator to see exactly what needs to go on the truck, flag items that require special handling — pianos, antiques, oversized furniture — and build a schedule around your closing date.
Pro Tip: If your move involves long-distance relocation into New Hampshire, book six to eight weeks in advance. Interstate moves require coordinated routing, and spring through early fall is the busiest period on the calendar.
McLaughlin Has Been Here Since 1936
McLaughlin Transportation Systems is headquartered right here on Progress Avenue in Nashua, with additional offices in Concord and Portsmouth, NH, and in Woburn and Lowell, MA. As a Mayflower agent, we handle local, long-distance, and international moves with professional packing, climate-controlled storage, and dedicated move coordinators who know this market inside and out. Contact McLaughlin for a free estimate — and let us handle the move while you get settled into Nashua.