Schmidt and Nick having been roommates since college, where they shared a dorm between just the two of them. They get along great, respect each other's space, and if a problem does arise, they are both great at communicating with one another to extinguish any flames before things get too heated.
Nick and Schmidt are ideal roommates for each other, but what about everyone else? After college, Nick and Schmidt branched out, still living together, but now with more people. In their current, more adult-like living situation, it's easy to compare the two and decide who might be the better roommate.
Schmidt: Enjoys The Finer Things In Life
Schmidt leads a luxurious lifestyle. Whether he's wearing his silk kimono, a Tag Romney inspired outfit, or sipping expensive bourbon at the bar with Nick, he really knows how to add some class to an otherwise basic living situation. His roommates may make fun of him for wearing driving moccasins and ironing his shirts, but they know deep down that he makes everybody look better just by taking such good care of himself.
Nick: Gives Great Advice
What Nick lacks in the cleanliness and poise categories, he makes up for with his logic and critical thinking and conflict resolution skills. Nick is surprisingly smart and when he uses his brain to help his roommates, everyone wins. Schmidt experiences this when he turns to Nick for help after Coach asks Cece out on a date, sending Schmidt into a shame spiral. Nick pulls Schmidt out of his dark thoughts and reminds him of everything he has to offer someone.
Schmidt: Cooks
Schmidt is a very good cook and is usually the one in charge of the big family meals, like Thanksgiving. In one of the earlier seasons, Nick convinces everyone to follow his lead for the group's favorite holiday and they end up camping in the woods with no Thanksgiving dinner.
Schmidt is very against the idea, but tries to humor Nick, who ends up finding an already dead, and most likely toxic, fish and cooking it over an open flame.
Nick: Likes Sports
One of the ways Nick bonds with his other roommates is over sporting events. Nick is from Chicago and loves all the sports teams that represent his city. He and Coach have a rivalry because Coach roots for the Pistons while Nick roots for the Bulls, but the competition is always friendly and actually brings these two roommates closer together. Schmidt struggles on the sidelines when it comes to sports and usually doesn't hang out on game days.
Schmidt: Financially Stable
Schmidt takes pride in his work and he works very hard to be able to afford the lifestyle he wants to have. Schmidt is always on time when it comes to paying bills and occasionally picks up the tab for his friends, whether it be on something for the loft or a night out on the town.
Schmidt is definitely reliable when it comes to money, but Nick, on the other hand, is not. Nick doesn't have a bank account and ignores "Past Due" notices on his bills, making for a less than stable living situation.
Nick: Rents Out Jess' Room
Initially, this doesn't seem like the best idea, but it actually ends up working out in everyone's favor. When Jess is sequestered for jury duty, Nick rents her room out for the month. A very attractive woman named Reagan moves in and everyone seems to like her. The bonus to all of this is that Jess doesn't have to worry about paying rent for her living space while she is serving, which eases some financial burdens for her and allows her to fully immerse herself in being the best possible juror.
Schmidt: Always Thinking Of His Roommates
Schmidt's love language is gifts and gestures. Schmidt is always thinking of his friends and how he can make their day a little better. In one episode, Schmidt comes home and gives Nick a cookie, telling his roommate that while he was out, he thought of him and wanted to do something nice.
Nick is immediately suspicious and put off by Schmidt's kindness, questioning why Schmidt was thinking of him in the first place. Nick has a difficult time accepting that sometimes people just do nice things for each other.
Nick: Gives His Roommates Free Drinks
The biggest bonus to living with a bartender is all the free drinking you get to do. Nick's roommates are always visiting him at the bar while he's working, which works out for everyone. Nick is entertained and still gets to hang out with his friends while he's on the clock and his friends don't have to worry about an expensive Los Angeles bar tab at the end of a fun night out.
Schmidt: Doesn't Walk In On People
Schmidt understands what a closed-door means and doesn't cross that boundary with any of his roommates because he respects their privacy. Nick, does not let a close door hold him back from seeking advice during a time of crisis. Once Schmidt and Cece are together, they spend a lot of time in Schmidt's room, behind a closed door, but whenever Nick needs something from his best friend, he barges in on the happy couple without knocking.
Nick: Doesn't Overshare
Nick may not know what it means when someone else's door is closed, but he definitely knows how to close his own door when he needs a little alone time, which is more than we can say for Schmidt, especially early on in the series. When Schmidt injures his lower region having a one night stand with Nadia, Cece's model roommate, he struggles with his alone time. He comes out of his room to let his roommates know about his trouble and Jess has to point out that he's oversharing and didn't even close his bedroom door while he was in there.