Compare towns
Pelham vs Dedham 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
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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.
| Measure | Pelham | Dedham | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
25,237Highest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Dedham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Dedham | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Dedham High | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.


