Compare towns
Goffstown vs Methuen vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Methuen | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
53,475Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Goffstown 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. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% 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% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Goffstown and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Methuen | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.