Compare towns
Goffstown vs Pelham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
14,449Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Pelham 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 6% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.