Compare towns

Hudson vs Durham vs Nashua

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 homeowners (82.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Nashua has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureHudsonDurhamNashua
People
Population
25,557
10,681Lowest
91,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
6% above NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
40±1.3
8% below NH
Kids under 18
16.8%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.6%±1.2Highest
NH: 18.2%
Nashua 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
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.9%±1
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
5%±0.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,213±$6kHighest
25% above NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$96,326±$5kLowest
about the NH average
Hudson and Durham 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
$498,000±$45kHighest
24% above NH
$403,900±$11kLowest
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123
16% above NH
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
$1,737±$41Highest
16% above NH
Nashua and Hudson 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,799
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.3%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
45.8%±4.2
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
7.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
55.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1975
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
Work from home
19.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
17.4%±1.6
NH: 16.8%
Hudson and Nashua 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 #9 of 120 in NH #67 of 120 in NH
School district Hudson School District — Nashua School District
High school in town Alvirne High School — Nashua High School South
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Lowest
—
12.8Highest
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.