Compare towns
Goffstown vs Jackson vs Pelham
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Pelham 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 | Jackson | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
897Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Jackson and Pelham 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 |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Jackson 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Jackson School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.