Compare towns
Hudson vs Lebanon 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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Lebanon | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
14,999Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% 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% |
14.6%±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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Lebanon 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Lebanon School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Lebanon High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.7Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.