Compare towns
Goffstown vs Jaffrey vs Plaistow
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%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
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 | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
5,448Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Jaffrey 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Goffstown and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above NH |
$6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Plaistow 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Goffstown and Plaistow 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Conant Middle High School (H) | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
21.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.