Compare towns
Merrimack vs Middlesex vs Goffstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the most expensive homes ($459k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Goffstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Merrimack | Middlesex | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
1,943Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | — | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.