What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Salem
People
Population	25,557Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH	44.6±2.7Lowest 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%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hudson and Salem 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%	18.6%±1.7Lowest 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%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
	Hudson and Salem 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	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH
	Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH
	Hudson and Salem 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	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Hudson 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%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above NH	29 minLowest 9% above NH
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hudson and Salem 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	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Hudson School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	11.2Lowest
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.