Compare towns
Hudson vs Hampton Beach vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($439k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
2,605Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.