Compare towns
Pelham vs Durham vs Goffstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
15,080 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
| Pelham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Pelham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Durham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Oyster River High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.