Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hanover vs Stratham 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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Stratham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
11,685 |
7,754Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Stratham and Goffstown 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hooksett 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Hanover High School | None in town | 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 | 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.