What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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	Salem
People
Population	18,513Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
	Salem 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 NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Lowest 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%	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH
	Goffstown and Salem 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	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Lowest 4% above NH	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Goffstown and Salem 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%	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Goffstown 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	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Goffstown School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Goffstown High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.