Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hanover vs New Boston
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
11,685 |
6,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
| Goffstown and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
| Hanover and New Boston 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and New Boston 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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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.