Compare towns

Barre vs Goffstown vs Blackstone

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Goffstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureBarreGoffstownBlackstone
People
Population
5,572Lowest
18,513Highest
9,255
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±8.5Highest
13% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.2±1.7
11% above U.S.
Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Blackstone and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,727±$13k
33% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kHighest
41% above U.S.
$94,191±$21kLowest
17% above U.S.
Goffstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,300±$55k
19% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
$404,400±$34kHighest
22% above U.S.
Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,231±$161Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
Goffstown and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,163Lowest
66% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
$5,703
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
11.2%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Blackstone and Goffstown 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 #134 of 282 in MA #35 of 120 in NH #207 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Goffstown School District Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School Goffstown High School Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
12.6Lowest
13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.