Compare towns
Hudson vs Bow vs Salem
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).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
8,335Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Bow 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Bow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem 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 |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Bow 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hudson 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Bow School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Bow High School | 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 |
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.