What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most homeowners (82.6%).

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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	Portsmouth
People
Population	25,557Highest	22,545Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average
	Hudson and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hudson and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Portsmouth 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%	64%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH	$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH
	Portsmouth 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	$8,018Highest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	6.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Portsmouth 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	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	Hudson School District	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	11.4Lowest
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.