Compare towns
Goffstown vs Methuen vs Salem
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Lowest |
53,475Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Salem 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% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% 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. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Methuen | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Methuen High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.