Compare towns
Salem vs Newfields 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 renters (24.4% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
2,023Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Salem and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields 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 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Goffstown and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Newfields and Salem 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | — | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Newfields School District | 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 |
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.