Compare towns
Atkinson vs Goffstown vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Atkinson | Goffstown | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
18,513Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Atkinson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Atkinson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Goffstown School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Goffstown High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.