Compare towns
Salem vs Hampton vs Goffstown
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 kids (16.2% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Hampton | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
16,426Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below 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±$16k 18% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Winnacunnet High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.