Compare towns
Strafford vs Goffstown vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Strafford | Goffstown | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
18,513Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
— |
| Strafford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Goffstown School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Goffstown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.