What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).

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	Middleborough
People
Population	18,513Lowest	24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S.
	Middleborough 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%	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middleborough and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough 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%	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.	$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Goffstown and Middleborough 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.	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.	$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.2%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Goffstown and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Goffstown School District	Middleborough
High school in town	Goffstown High School	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.3Lowest
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.