What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).

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	Lawrence	Goffstown
People
Population	88,736Highest	18,513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.	41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Lawrence and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	58.1%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#35 of 120 in NH
School district	Lawrence	Goffstown School District
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.