Compare towns
Litchfield vs Salem vs Hampstead
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).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Litchfield | Salem | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,499Lowest |
30,964Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Salem 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Hampstead 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% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Salem 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead 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 |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Litchfield 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±$146 9% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Litchfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273 24% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Salem School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| 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.