Compare towns
Goffstown vs Weare vs Pelham
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Weare | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
9,170Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Weare 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Pelham 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Weare and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | John Stark Regional High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.