What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hudson	Alton
People
Population	25,557Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±1.9Lowest 6% above NH	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hudson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Hudson 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 NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH	$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH
	Hudson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kHighest 9% above NH	$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH
	Hudson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123 16% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Highest about the NH average	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hudson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hudson and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Hudson School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.