Compare towns
Hudson vs Nashua vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Hudson | Nashua | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,469 |
91,294Highest |
4,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±3.4Highest 7% above NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Hudson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,842±$19k 3% below NH |
$96,326±$5kHighest about the NH average |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
| Nashua and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,400±$24k 9% below NH |
$403,900±$11kHighest about the NH average |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$86 15% above NH |
$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Nashua and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,729 14% below NH |
$6,799Highest about the NH average |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nashua and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Nashua 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Nashua School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Nashua High School South | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.