Compare towns
Dover vs Goffstown vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Carlisle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Dover | Goffstown | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
18,513Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855 7% below U.S. |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Goffstown School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Goffstown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.