Compare towns
Goffstown vs Madison vs Barrington
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 renters (17.3% rent).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Madison | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
2,680Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Madison 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%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Madison 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| Goffstown and Barrington 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 |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$399,100±$30kHighest about the NH average |
| Barrington and Madison 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 |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Madison 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 |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$7,121Highest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Barrington 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Goffstown 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 | — | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Madison School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.