Compare towns
Hudson vs Pelham vs Hooksett 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 oldest population (median age 45.7).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Pelham | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
14,449Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Salem 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% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Pelham 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±$11k 9% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Pelham High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
| 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.