What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goffstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.

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

Measure	Goffstown	Hardwick
People
Population	18,513Highest	2,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Goffstown and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Goffstown and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,400±$20kHighest 13% above U.S.	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Highest 13% below U.S.	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Goffstown and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.	$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and Hardwick 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%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Goffstown and Hardwick 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	#68 of 70 in VT
School district	Goffstown School District	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Goffstown High School	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.