Compare towns
Salem vs Hudson vs Rochester
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).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hudson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
25,557Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Rochester 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 NH: 40.6% |
34.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 12% above NH |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below 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 |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| 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 5% above NH |
$6,636 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Salem 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hudson School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Alvirne High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.6 |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.