What stands out worked out from the figures below

Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Litchfield	Salem
People
Population	8,499Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.1±1.7Lowest 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	22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
	Litchfield and Salem 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	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH	$473,300±$16kLowest 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	$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH
	Litchfield and Salem 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	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest 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	1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	29 minLowest 9% above NH
Work from home	21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest 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	#53 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Litchfield School District	Salem School District
High school 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

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.