Compare towns
Hudson vs Dracut 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%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Dracut | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Lowest |
32,574Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% 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% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Dracut 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. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hudson 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. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Dracut | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Dracut Senior High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.