Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Manchester 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Manchester | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057Lowest |
115,643Highest |
28,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
| Merrimack and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett 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% NH: 40.6% |
34%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% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 14.3Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.