Compare towns
Goffstown vs Manchester 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 the most homeowners (82.7%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Manchester | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
115,643Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Highest 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Goffstown and Plaistow 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% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Plaistow 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% 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 |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% 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±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Manchester 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Manchester Memorial High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.