Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hancock 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).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hancock | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
1,791Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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 6% below NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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 |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.