Compare towns

Methuen vs Hooksett 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

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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.

MeasureMethuenHooksettGoffstown
People
Population
53,475Highest
15,057Lowest
18,513
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.3±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Highest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Goffstown and Hooksett 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%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,310±$7kLowest
40% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
Hooksett and Goffstown 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.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,061Lowest
62% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Goffstown and Hooksett 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 #30 of 120 in NH #35 of 120 in NH
School district Methuen Hooksett School District Goffstown School District
High school in town Methuen High None in town Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.