Compare towns
Hudson vs Windham vs Salem vs Raymond
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Raymond has the most affordable homes ($370k 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.
| Measure | Hudson | Windham | Salem | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
16,038 |
30,964Highest |
10,900Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
43.4±3.8 about the NH average |
| 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
18%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| 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±$6k 25% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$104,597±$10kLowest 6% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$370,400±$17kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,376±$196Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,146Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±11.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #96 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Windham School District | Salem School District | Raymond School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Windham High School | Salem High School | Raymond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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.