Compare towns
Salem vs Dover 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
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Salem | Dover | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
5,930Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
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.