Compare towns
Hudson vs Pelham vs Plaistow
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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.
| Measure | Hudson | Pelham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
14,449 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hudson and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Plaistow 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Pelham 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 |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% 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 |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Hudson and Plaistow 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Pelham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Pelham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.