Compare towns

Hudson vs Stratham vs Dracut

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

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.

MeasureHudsonStrathamDracut
People
Population
25,557
7,754Lowest
32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hudson and Stratham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Dracut 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
54% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$114,036±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$438,900±$11kLowest
32% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$473,900±$17k
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123Lowest
23% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,839±$130
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,636
113% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.3%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #201 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Dracut
High school in town Alvirne High School None in town Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Lowest
—
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.