Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hudson vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% 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 | Hudson | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Lowest |
25,557 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Merrimack 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hudson School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Alvirne High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
12.5 |
| 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.