Compare towns
Goffstown vs Merrimack vs Hudson
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%).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Merrimack | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Lowest |
28,164Highest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Merrimack 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Merrimack School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Merrimack High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.5 |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.