Compare towns
Salem vs Lawrence 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 people working from home (16.3%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
88,736Highest |
18,513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Lawrence | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Lawrence High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.