Compare towns

Hudson vs Windham 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 highest household income ($124k).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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.

MeasureHudsonWindhamSalem
People
Population
25,557
19,188Lowest
30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% 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%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Hudson 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%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
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.
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
$110,490±$9k
37% above U.S.
Hudson and Salem 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.
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% 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.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.3%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hudson and Windham 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 #95 of 133 in ME #38 of 120 in NH
School district Hudson School District RSU 14 Salem School District
High school in town Alvirne High School Windham High School Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6
12.1Highest
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.