Compare towns

Methuen vs Goffstown vs Haverhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% rent).

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.

MeasureMethuenGoffstownHaverhill
People
Population
53,475
18,513Lowest
67,698Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7
about the U.S. average
41.3±3.1Highest
6% above U.S.
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
21.3%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
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%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,310±$7k
40% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kHighest
41% above U.S.
$88,326±$4kLowest
9% 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.
$453,900±$9k
36% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,668±$49
18% above U.S.
Methuen and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,061
62% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
$4,772Lowest
53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
60.2%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Haverhill and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Goffstown and Haverhill 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 #243 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen Goffstown School District Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Methuen High Goffstown High School Haverhill High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
12.6
12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.