Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
15,057 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Hooksett 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.