Compare towns
Hooksett vs Litchfield vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Litchfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
8,499Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Litchfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Litchfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,273Highest 24% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Litchfield 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Litchfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.