What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

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	Needham	Goffstown
People
Population	32,459Highest	18,513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.	41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Needham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Goffstown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.	$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 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	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#35 of 120 in NH
School district	Needham	Goffstown School District
High school in town	Needham High	Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.