Compare towns
Salem vs Upton 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 renters (24.4% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Upton | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
8,189Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Salem 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Goffstown 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Blackstone Valley | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.