Compare towns
Hudson vs North Hampton 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 affordable homes ($439k median).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | North Hampton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
4,543Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hudson 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Hudson 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Salem 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 |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| North Hampton 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±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Hudson 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | North Hampton School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 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.