Compare towns

Hudson vs Stratton vs Salem

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 most people working from home (19.6%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.

MeasureHudsonStrattonSalem
People
Population
25,557
532Lowest
30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
31.5±4.1Lowest
19% below U.S.
44.6±2.7
15% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
28%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.7%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Salem 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
54% above U.S.
$122,708±$33k
52% above U.S.
$110,490±$9kLowest
37% above U.S.
Hudson and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$438,900±$11k
32% above U.S.
$400,000±$50kLowest
20% above U.S.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,208±$979Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,625±$146
15% above U.S.
Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,636
113% above U.S.
$4,750Lowest
52% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.3%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±69.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6Highest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
19% above U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
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
School district Hudson School District — Salem School District
High school in town Alvirne High School — Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
—
11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.