Compare towns
Keene vs Pelham vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Keene | Pelham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
14,449Lowest |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Pelham School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Pelham High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.