Compare towns
Hudson vs Merrimack vs Nashua
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 oldest population (median age 45.7).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Merrimack | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Lowest |
28,164 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Nashua 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Merrimack 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 |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
| Merrimack 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±$11k 9% above NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Merrimack and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,737±$41 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
$6,799 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nashua and Merrimack 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Merrimack School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Merrimack High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.5 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.