What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plaistow	Hudson
People
Population	7,861Lowest	25,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH
	Hudson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hudson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH	$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH
	Hudson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average	$438,900±$11kHighest 9% above NH
	Hudson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Lowest 12% above NH	$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH
	Hudson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$6,636Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	31 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hudson and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH	#63 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Hudson School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.