Compare towns
Salem vs Acton vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hudson has the most homeowners (82.6%).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Acton | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
24,155Lowest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
| Acton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Acton-Boxborough | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.