Compare towns
Salem vs Exeter 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
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Exeter | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
16,151Lowest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Exeter 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 12% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
| 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 18% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Exeter High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.