Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hardwick vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Hardwick | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
2,965Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40% 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% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| 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±$20k 13% above U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #68 of 70 in VT | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Hazen Union High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.