Compare towns
Hudson vs Salem vs Bow vs Hooksett
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).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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.
| Measure | Hudson | Salem | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
30,964Highest |
8,335Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Bow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Salem School District | Bow School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Salem High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.