Compare towns
Salem vs Pelham 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 renters (24.4% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
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 | Pelham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
14,449Lowest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Pelham 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 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Pelham School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Pelham High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.