Compare towns
Hudson vs Brewer 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 people working from home (19.6%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Brewer | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
9,652Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% 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% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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±$6kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 113% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hudson and Salem 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Brewer Public Schools | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Brewer High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.