What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most expensive homes ($439k median).

Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hudson	Orange
People
Population	25,557Highest	320Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH	41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH
	Hudson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Orange and Hudson 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%	20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hudson and Orange 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%	37.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	4.7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Hudson and Orange 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 25% above NH	$118,750±$39kLowest 20% above NH
	Hudson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kHighest 9% above NH	$302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123 16% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Highest about the NH average	$5,132Lowest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hudson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above NH	28 minLowest 5% above NH
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Orange 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	—
School district	Hudson School District	—
High school in town	Alvirne High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.