Compare towns
Hudson vs Bedford vs Merrimack
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 affordable homes ($439k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Bedford | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
23,746Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Bedford 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% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6kLowest 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Bedford School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Bedford High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.