Compare towns
Hudson vs Hanover 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 most homeowners (82.6%).
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.
| Measure | Hudson | Hanover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
11,685Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| 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%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hudson and Salem 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Hanover High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.