Compare towns
Goffstown vs Derry vs Dunbarton vs Hooksett
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 most affordable homes ($377k median).
Derry has the most people working from home (16%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Derry | Dunbarton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
34,116Highest |
3,097Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dunbarton 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.