Compare towns
Merrimack vs Windham vs Nashua vs Goffstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Windham | Nashua | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,164 |
16,038Lowest |
91,294Highest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
| Merrimack and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$403,900±$11k about the NH average |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,737±$41 16% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,799Lowest about the NH average |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Windham School District | Nashua School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Windham High School | Nashua High School South | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.