Compare towns

Hudson vs Cushing 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 highest household income ($124k).
Cushing has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.

MeasureHudsonCushingSalem
People
Population
25,557
1,460Lowest
30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9
17% above U.S.
48.8±7.7Highest
25% above U.S.
44.6±2.7Lowest
15% above U.S.
Cushing 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
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Cushing and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hudson and Cushing 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%
38.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Salem 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.
$83,500±$19kLowest
3% above 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.
$409,800±$44kLowest
23% above U.S.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,553±$376Lowest
10% above 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.
$3,944Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.3%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
33.7%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salem and Hudson 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%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
23 minLowest
11% below U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hudson and Cushing 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 — #38 of 120 in NH
School district Hudson School District RSU 13 Salem School District
High school in town Alvirne High School None in town Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
—
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.