Compare towns
Hudson vs Salem vs Hooksett vs Derry
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 most people working from home (19.6%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
30,964 |
15,057Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry 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% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 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±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Salem High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.2Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.