What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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	Salem
People
Population	25,557Highest	2,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.
	Salem and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S.	$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kHighest 32% above U.S.	$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S.	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Highest 113% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	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 U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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	#376 of 484 in NY
School district	Hudson School District	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Alvirne High School	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	8.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.