What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goffstown has the most kids (16% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson
People
Population	18,513Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Goffstown and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Goffstown 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%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Goffstown and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,400±$20kHighest 13% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$161Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Goffstown and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs 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%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Goffstown and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Goffstown School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Goffstown High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.