Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Nashua
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%).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057Lowest |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Highest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nashua and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$403,900±$11k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
| Nashua and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,799 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Nashua 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nashua 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.