What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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	North Andover
People
Population	18,513Lowest	31,490Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S.	39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average
	Goffstown and North Andover 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%	21.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Goffstown and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	11%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Goffstown and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S.	$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.	$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.	$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S.	$7,767Highest 149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and North Andover 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%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.8%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.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#35 of 120 in NH	#98 of 282 in MA
School district	Goffstown School District	North Andover
High school in town	Goffstown High School	North Andover High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	13.3Highest
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.