Compare towns
Hudson vs Bedford vs Stratham vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Bedford | Stratham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
23,746 |
7,754 |
7,469Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±3.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Hudson and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hudson 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 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$95,842±$19kLowest 3% below NH |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$366,400±$24kLowest 9% below NH |
| Stratham and Bedford 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 |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,722±$86Lowest 15% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$5,729Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.3%±7.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Bedford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.