Compare towns

Worcester vs Everett vs Goffstown vs Auburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
Auburn has the oldest population (median age 44.8).

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.

MeasureWorcesterEverettGoffstownAuburn
People
Population
207,055Highest
50,045
18,513
16,970Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
35.2±1.5
10% below U.S.
41.3±3.1
6% above U.S.
44.8±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
Auburn and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±0.8
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Everett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.3%±0.6
U.S.: 17.2%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Auburn and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.1%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Goffstown and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
$116,711±$10kHighest
45% above U.S.
Auburn and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$374,400±$7kLowest
13% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$377,400±$20k
13% above U.S.
$400,000±$16k
20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,487±$38
5% above U.S.
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,467±$155
4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,733Lowest
52% above U.S.
$4,880
56% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
$5,289
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±2.9
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.4%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
42.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951
29 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.5%±1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Auburn 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 #266 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #35 of 120 in NH #106 of 282 in MA
School district Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Everett Goffstown School District Auburn
High school in town South High Community Everett High Goffstown High School Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Highest
12.1Lowest
12.6
12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.