Compare towns

Dracut vs Goffstown vs Middleborough

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Middleborough has the oldest population (median age 43.4).

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.

MeasureDracutGoffstownMiddleborough
People
Population
32,574Highest
18,513Lowest
24,505
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.4±2.1Highest
12% above U.S.
Middleborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Middleborough and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,036±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
$97,056±$7kLowest
20% above U.S.
Dracut and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$473,900±$17kHighest
42% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
$468,700±$18k
41% above U.S.
Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,706±$72
21% above U.S.
Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
$6,023
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.6%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.2%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Goffstown and Middleborough 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 #201 of 282 in MA #35 of 120 in NH #170 of 282 in MA
School district Dracut Goffstown School District Middleborough
High school in town Dracut Senior High Goffstown High School Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
12.6
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.