Compare towns
Hudson vs Salem vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($439k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
30,964Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 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 |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% 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±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Salem School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Salem High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.