Compare towns
Hudson vs Exeter vs Hooksett 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 highest household income ($124k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Exeter | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
16,151 |
15,057Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Exeter 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 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Salem 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.1Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.