Compare towns

Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Saco

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 most kids (17.4% under 18).
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

MeasureGoffstownHooksettSaco
People
Population
18,513
15,057Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%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.
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
Saco 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
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Hooksett and Saco 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%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Goffstown and Saco 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%
43.5%Highest
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%
5.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% 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.
$413,100±$17kHighest
24% above U.S.
Saco and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Hooksett and Saco 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.
$4,807Lowest
54% 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%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Saco 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%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Saco 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 #38 of 133 in ME
School district Goffstown School District Hooksett School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Goffstown High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.