What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goffstown has the most people working from home (13.8%).

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Goffstown	Dracut
People
Population	18,513Lowest	32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S.
	Dracut 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 U.S.: 22%	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Goffstown and Dracut 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 U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S.	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% 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	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±7.4Lowest 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	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Goffstown and Dracut 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	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Goffstown School District	Dracut
High school in town	Goffstown High School	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.