Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Mapleton vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057 |
1,884Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$458,600±$15kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.