Compare towns
Goffstown vs Epping vs Dunbarton vs Pelham
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Epping | Dunbarton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
7,430 |
3,097Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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 6% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Epping and Pelham 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 |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Epping School District | Dunbarton School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Epping High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4 |
| 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.