Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Pelham
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Needham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057 |
32,459Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Needham and Pelham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Needham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% 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% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Needham | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Needham High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.9 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.