Compare towns

Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Methuen

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 most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).

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.

MeasureGoffstownHooksettMethuen
People
Population
18,513
15,057Lowest
53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.3±3.1Highest
6% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
39.9±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Methuen and Hooksett 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%
17.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
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%
6.7%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$113,310±$7kLowest
40% above U.S.
Hooksett 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±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$499,700±$17kHighest
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
Methuen and Hooksett 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.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$5,061Lowest
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.1%±20Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Methuen 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Goffstown and Hooksett 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 #30 of 120 in NH #236 of 282 in MA
School district Goffstown School District Hooksett School District Methuen
High school in town Goffstown High School None in town Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.