Compare towns

Goffstown vs Pelham vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% 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.

MeasureGoffstownPelhamWorcester
People
Population
18,513
14,449Lowest
207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±3.1
6% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Highest
7% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Pelham 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%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±0.8
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Worcester 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%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Goffstown and Pelham 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%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.1%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Goffstown and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
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±$20k
13% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$374,400±$7kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
$1,487±$38Highest
5% above U.S.
Worcester and Pelham 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.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$4,733Lowest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #35 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH #266 of 282 in MA
School district Goffstown School District Pelham School District Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town Goffstown High School Pelham High School South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
10.4Lowest
14.6Highest
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.