Compare towns
Hudson vs Acton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Acton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
24,155Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Acton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Acton-Boxborough | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.