Compare towns
Hudson vs Methuen vs Milton vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Methuen | Milton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
53,475Highest |
28,587 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Hooksett 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 54% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 113% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Methuen | Milton | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Methuen High | Milton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.