Compare towns

Goffstown vs Lyndeborough 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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.

MeasureGoffstownLyndeboroughPelham
People
Population
18,513Highest
1,616Lowest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
NH: +4.6%
+1.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±3.1Lowest
5% below NH
50±3.2Highest
15% above NH
41.5±2.7
4% below NH
Kids under 18
16%±2.5
NH: 18.2%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22%±2.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
19%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Lyndeborough 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%Highest
NH: 40.6%
40.1%
NH: 40.6%
40%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.5%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±1.3
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,958±$12kLowest
15% above NH
$116,964±$17k
18% above NH
$135,956±$19kHighest
37% above NH
Pelham and Lyndeborough 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
$390,900±$26k
about the NH average
$552,600±$27kHighest
37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,231±$161Lowest
17% below NH
$1,482±$457Highest
about the NH average
$1,425±$88
4% below NH
Lyndeborough and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,941Lowest
4% above NH
$7,133
7% above NH
$8,634Highest
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.1%±20
NH: 48.2%
48.9%±90Lowest
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%
3.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above NH
39 minHighest
46% above NH
30 min
10% above NH
Work from home
13.8%±2.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
Pelham and Lyndeborough 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 Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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 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.