Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Dunbarton vs Merrimack
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Hooksett | Dunbarton | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057 |
3,097Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Dunbarton 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack and Dunbarton 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Dunbarton 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Dunbarton School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.