Compare towns

Salem vs Berwick 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 most renters (24.4% rent).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).

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.

MeasureSalemBerwickHudson
People
Population
30,964Highest
8,175Lowest
25,557
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.7
15% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% 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%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.6%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,490±$9k
37% above U.S.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
$124,213±$6kHighest
54% above U.S.
Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
$438,900±$11k
32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$146
15% above U.S.
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,735±$123Highest
23% above U.S.
Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,636
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.3%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick 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%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
16.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick 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 #38 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME #63 of 120 in NH
School district Salem School District RSU 60/MSAD 60 Hudson School District
High school in town Salem High School None in town Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
—
11.6Highest
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.