Compare towns
Nashua vs Brookline 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
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Nashua | Brookline | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 91,294Highest |
5,736Lowest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$41 16% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH |
| Brookline and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,799 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
31 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nashua School District | Brookline School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Nashua High School South | None in town | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.