What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Salem	Litchfield
People
Population	30,964Highest	8,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH	43.1±1.7Lowest about the NH average
	Salem and Litchfield 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%	22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%	14.9%±2.4Lowest 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+	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±1.6Highest 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	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH	$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH	$485,000±$18kHighest 20% 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	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH	$2,138±$406Highest 43% 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	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH	$8,273Highest 24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	81.5%±38.3Highest 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	5%Highest NH: 7.2%	1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±5.1Highest 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	#38 of 120 in NH	#53 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Litchfield School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Campbell High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.4Highest
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.