Compare towns
Hudson vs Stratham vs Hooksett vs Salem
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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Stratham | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
7,754Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.