Compare towns
Litchfield vs Hampton vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Litchfield | Hampton | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,499Lowest |
16,426 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273Highest 24% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Winnacunnet High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.