Compare towns
Salem vs Pembroke 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
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 | Pembroke | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
7,438Lowest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% 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 |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Pembroke School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Pembroke Academy | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.