Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Dunbarton
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%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k 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.
| Measure | Goffstown | Hooksett | Plaistow | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
15,057 |
7,861 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Goffstown 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Goffstown and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.