Compare towns
Salem vs Goffstown vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Goffstown | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
18,513 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Salem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Salem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Goffstown School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Goffstown High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.6 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.