What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hudson	Hanover
People
Population	25,557Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hudson and Hanover 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%	19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hudson and Hanover 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%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kLowest 25% above NH	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Lowest about the NH average	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above NH	20 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Hudson School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.