Along with being the second largest city in New Hampshire, Nashua is the only city to be honored by Money Magazine twice as the "Best Place to Live in America." For a city with a population of a little under 90,000, the downtown area has the feel of a much larger city with all its activity. Outside of that main locus are many charming rural areas, and to align with the cold New England winters there are several spots to enjoy skiing without having to travel very far. Even when staying right in town, it is not uncommon to witness close to 56 inches of snow on average per year. The Nashua River pretty much divides the city geographically, while the Merrimack River borders it on the east side.
Economy:
The top industries contributing to the economy are in healthcare and technology. Cost of living is higher than the national average, but the unemployment rate runs on the low end, usually under 7 percent. That fact, complimented with a low crime rate, makes moving to Nashua appealing to many. Oracle Corporation and Hewlett-Packard are staple entities there, making it one of the important locations for the East Coast high-tech community. Because New Hampshire has no sales tax, retail shopping in Nashua is pretty popular with visitors and residents from Massachusetts who come there to avoid the added cost on their purchases.
History:
Nashua started out in the 1640s as part of a large section of land known as Dunstable, the name borrowed from a place in England; the land was part of Massachusetts originally, later sectioned off with Nashua ending up in New Hampshire. Although it was well known for fur trading, because of the water power surrounding the area, it quickly became a center for textile mills during the Industrial Revolution. During the late 1600s and early 1700s it was a very dangerous area to reside in with bloody wars occurring between France and England, made worse by Indians joining, and taking sides, in the battles. There was so much division that the town itself was once part Nashua and part Nashville. It became just Nashua by 1853 and prospered as a manufacturing area until the 1950s. As the times changed, Nashua kept up and keeps making history as an area characterized by innovation, enterprise and invention.
Tourism:
As a tourist or a resident, there is so much to see in Nashua. Anyone moving to this historical city will have plenty to do for years to come with all the historical landmarks, shopping, parks and nearby ski areas. The million square foot Pheasant Lane Mall with tax exempt shopping is attractive for sure. There are 49 ski areas within 100 miles of the city. For those who prefer to walk or ride a bike, the 325 acre Mines Falls Park is located right in town. Just to name a handful of the historical treasures: 1835 Nashua Cemetery, Indian Head Sculpture Columns, 19th century Mansions and Historical Society Museum - any of which could top a checklist of places to go.