Compare towns
Goffstown vs Amherst vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Amherst | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
11,861 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Amherst and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst 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% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.