Compare towns

Jaffrey vs Goffstown 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

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Goffstown has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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.

MeasureJaffreyGoffstownPelham
People
Population
5,448Lowest
18,513Highest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.2%
NH: +4.6%
+10.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.9±3.9Highest
about the NH average
41.3±3.1Lowest
5% below NH
41.5±2.7
4% below NH
Jaffrey and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.1%±5.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
16%±2.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
Jaffrey and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.8
NH: 20.1%
19%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Goffstown and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
40%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
14.5%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
5.9%±1.3
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,330±$18kLowest
7% below NH
$113,958±$12k
15% above NH
$135,956±$19kHighest
37% above NH
Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,500±$27kLowest
39% below NH
$377,400±$20k
6% below NH
$552,600±$27kHighest
37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$962±$202Lowest
35% below NH
$1,231±$161
17% below NH
$1,425±$88Highest
4% below NH
Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,196Lowest
7% below NH
$6,941
4% above NH
$8,634Highest
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±23Lowest
NH: 48.2%
58.1%±20
NH: 48.2%
67.3%±12.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
NH: 7.2%
6.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
86.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
8% below NH
28 min
4% above NH
30 minHighest
10% above NH
Work from home
7.5%±4.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13.8%±2.2
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #87 of 120 in NH #35 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District Goffstown School District Pelham School District
High school in town Conant Middle High School (H) Goffstown High School Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
21.3Highest
12.6
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.