Compare towns
Epping vs Salem vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Epping | Salem | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
30,964Highest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 4% above NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
31 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hudson 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Salem School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Salem High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.2 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.