Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hudson vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnstead | Hudson | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
25,557 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.2% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Hudson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,636 about the NH average |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hudson School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Alvirne High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.