What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Goffstown has the highest household income ($114k).

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	Rochester	Goffstown
People
Population	33,144Highest	18,513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Highest about the NH average	41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH
	Rochester and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%	19%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	42.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH	$113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$377,400±$20kHighest 6% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH	$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH
	Rochester and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$6,941Highest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2%
	Goffstown and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	28 minHighest 4% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.8%±2.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Goffstown and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH	#35 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Goffstown School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.