Compare towns

Hudson vs Townsend vs Pelham

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).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureHudsonTownsendPelham
People
Population
25,557Highest
9,100Lowest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Townsend 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%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hudson and Townsend 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%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Pelham 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.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
Pelham 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.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hudson and Townsend 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.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.3%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Townsend 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
19% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham 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 #136 of 282 in MA #48 of 120 in NH
School district Hudson School District North Middlesex Pelham School District
High school in town Alvirne High School North Middlesex Regional Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6
13.1Highest
10.4Lowest
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.