What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Goffstown
People
Population	53,475Highest	18,513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S.
	Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S.	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Goffstown and Methuen 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	#236 of 282 in MA	#35 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Goffstown School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.