Compare towns
Salem vs Dunstable 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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Dunstable | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
3,408Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Salem and Dunstable 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. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Goffstown 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% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Groton-Dunstable | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 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.