Compare towns
Goffstown vs Townsend vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Townsend | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
9,100Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | North Middlesex | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | North Middlesex Regional | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.