Compare towns
Nashua vs Derry 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Derry | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 91,294Highest |
34,116 |
7,469Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
46.3±3.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
28.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,326±$5k about the NH average |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$95,842±$19kLowest 3% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,900±$11k about the NH average |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$366,400±$24kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,722±$86 15% above NH |
| Nashua and Hudson 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 |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$5,729Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
73.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.3%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Nashua 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nashua School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — |
| High school in town | Nashua High School South | Pinkerton Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— |
| 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.