Compare towns
Hudson vs Woonsocket 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 most people working from home (19.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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.
| Measure | Hudson | Woonsocket | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
43,521Highest |
15,057Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% 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. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest 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±$6kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Hooksett 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
15.2Highest |
— | 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.