Compare towns
Salem vs Epping vs Litchfield vs Hooksett
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 the most renters (24.4% rent).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Epping | Litchfield | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
7,430Lowest |
8,499 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Litchfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Litchfield and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,273Highest 24% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Epping School District | Litchfield School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Epping High School | Campbell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.