Compare towns
Goffstown vs Acton vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Goffstown | Acton | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
24,155Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Acton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Acton-Boxborough | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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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.