Compare towns
Weare vs Strafford 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
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Goffstown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Weare | Strafford | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
4,306Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 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+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,941Highest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Strafford School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.