Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Rochester
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 people working from home (13.8%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| 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±$20k 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown 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±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr 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%±2.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| 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.