Compare towns
Goffstown vs Jaffrey 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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Jaffrey | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
5,448Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Jaffrey and Pelham 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% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Jaffrey 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% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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 |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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 |
$6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Conant Middle High School (H) | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
21.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.