Compare towns
Goffstown vs Needham vs Barrington
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Needham | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
32,459Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Goffstown 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Needham | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.