Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping vs Salem 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
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Pelham | Epping | Salem | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,430Lowest |
30,964Highest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% 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 | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
31 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Salem School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Salem High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
11.2 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.