Compare towns
Hudson vs Andover 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 affordable homes ($439k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Hudson | Andover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Lowest |
36,652Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% 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% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest 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% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Hudson 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. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| 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% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Andover 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.8Highest |
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.