What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Hatfield
People
Population	18,513Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S.
	Hatfield 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%	14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Goffstown and Hatfield 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%	23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hatfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.	$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Goffstown and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.	$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S.
	Hatfield and Goffstown 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.	$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and Hatfield 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hatfield and Goffstown 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	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Goffstown School District	Hatfield
High school in town	Goffstown High School	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	6.1Lowest
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.