Compare towns
Pelham vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Goffstown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Reading | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
699Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Pelham 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 | — | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.