Compare towns
Hudson vs Newfields vs Salem vs Stratham
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 affordable homes ($439k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Salem | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
2,023Lowest |
30,964Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below 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%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Stratham 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Hudson 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Salem 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Newfields School District | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.