What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Goffstown	Methuen
People
Population	18,513Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Goffstown and Methuen 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.	$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S.
	Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Goffstown and Methuen 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	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Goffstown School District	Methuen
High school in town	Goffstown High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.