What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Goffstown
People
Population	30,964Highest	18,513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH	41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH
	Salem and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	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 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	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH	$113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH
	Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH	$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH	$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 5% above NH	$6,941Lowest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2%
	Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	6.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	28 minLowest 4% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Goffstown 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	#35 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Goffstown School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	12.6Highest
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.