Compare towns
Hudson vs Sutton vs Hooksett 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 oldest population (median age 45.7).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
9,452Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Hooksett 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Salem 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr 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 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Sutton | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Sutton High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.6Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.