Compare towns
Hudson vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Salem
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 highest household income ($124k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Wells 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 54% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Salem 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Wells 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | — | Wells High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.4 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.