Is Durham or Nashua Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Durham is safer than Nashua (Safety Score 98/100 vs 59/100), with a total crime rate of 265 per 100,000 versus 1,424 for Nashua — 81% lower. Durham has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Nashua has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Nashua is 6.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Durham — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Nashua — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Durham, NH
Nashua, NH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Durham | Nashua | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 265.0 | 1,424.1 | -1,159.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 40.8 | 162.8 | -122.0 |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 0.0 | +6.8 |
| Rape Rate | 34.0 | 53.9 | -19.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 14.3 | -14.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 0.0 | 92.4 | -92.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 224.2 | 1,261.3 | -1,037.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 0.0 | 33.0 | -33.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 210.6 | 1,141.4 | -930.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 13.6 | 86.9 | -73.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durham or Nashua safer?
Durham is safer with a total crime rate of 265 per 100K vs 1,424 for Nashua — a 81% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Durham has a violent crime rate of 40.8 per 100K while Nashua has 162.8. Durham has lower violent crime.
About Durham, NH
Durham, NH, home to the University of New Hampshire, is a small New England town on the Oyster River. It boasts a population of around 16,000, significantly augmented by its student body. With a safety score of 98/100 and a population coverage of 14,718, Durham has a total crime rate of 265.0 per 100,000 residents.
About Nashua, NH
Nashua, once the "Spindletree City" for its textile mills, sits on the Merrimack River near the Massachusetts border. This southern New Hampshire city is the second most populous in the state. With a safety score of 59/100 and a population coverage of 90,938, Nashua has a total crime rate of 1,424.1 per 100,000 residents.