Hillsborough County · Merrimack Valley

Goffstown

Home of Saint Anselm College's Presidential Politics Institute

About Goffstown

Goffstown is a working-class town on Manchester's western border, split into four distinct villages — Grasmere, Goffstown Center, Pinardville, and East Dunbarton — each with its own character and commercial center. The Piscataquog River, whose name comes from an Abenaki word meaning "where the river divides," runs through the heart of town and once powered more than twenty sawmills and seven grain mills by 1817. The Goffstown Rail Trail follows the old Boston & Maine Railroad corridor that served passengers from 1850 until 1938, and the converted depot building now operates as a coffee shop. Saint Anselm College, the third-oldest Catholic college in New England, sits on the town's eastern edge and plays an outsized role in national politics — its New Hampshire Institute of Politics is a mandatory stop for presidential candidates during every primary cycle. Uncanoonuc Mountain offers one of the best short hikes near Manchester, with summit views stretching from the Merrimack Valley to the White Mountains on clear days. The town has a practical, no-frills feel that keeps housing costs noticeably lower than neighboring Bedford while still being a ten-minute drive to everything Manchester offers.

Why Goffstown?

SAU 19 school district operates three elementary schools, a middle school (grades 5-8), and Goffstown High School, with total enrollment over 2,700 students
Saint Anselm College, a nationally recognized Benedictine liberal arts college founded in 1889, anchors the local economy and cultural life
The Uncanoonuc Mountains offer hiking trails and panoramic views of the Merrimack Valley minutes from Goffstown Village
Nine miles to downtown Manchester and under 35 minutes to Concord or Nashua, with a mean commute time of 25.7 minutes for residents
Walkable Goffstown Village along Main Street with local restaurants and shops, plus the Municipal Rail Trail and Piscataquog River access

Quick Facts

Population

18,577

County

Hillsborough

Region

Merrimack Valley

School District

SAU 19

Weather in Goffstown

53°F

Clear

Today

60 / 36

Fri

54 / 31

Sat

54 / 31

Map

Living in Goffstown

What you need to know about making Goffstown your home.

Major Employers

Goffstown School District / SAU 19Hillsborough CountySaint Anselm CollegeHannaford BrothersTown of GoffstownNortheastern Sheet Metal, Inc.New Hampshire Steel Fabricators

Schools & Education

Goffstown is served by SAU 19, which also covers New Boston. The district operates five public schools with a combined enrollment of approximately 2,766 students.

Cost of Living

Goffstown's cost of living runs roughly 12-15% above the national average, driven mainly by housing costs. However, the town is estimated at about 18% below the New Hampshire state average, and residents benefit from no state income tax and no sales tax.

Real Estate

$560,000 median home price

$20.88 per $1,000 property tax rate

No state income or sales tax in NH

View listings in Goffstown

Commute Times

1 hr 5 min

Boston

35 min

Nashua

30 min

Concord

15 min

Manchester

1 hr 50 min

Portland, ME

School District

Regional district

Goffstown School District(SAU 19)

Grades served: PreK-12

Website

Goffstown serves as a district hub for students from nearby towns in this district.

District towns

New Boston

Glen Lake School

PK-KElementary

Bartlett Elementary School

1-4Elementary

Maple Avenue Elementary School

1-4Elementary

Mountain View Middle School

5-8Middle School

Goffstown High SchoolGrizzlies

9-12High School

Hidden Gems in Goffstown

Beyond the well-known attractions, Goffstown has spots that locals love and visitors rarely find.

Hillside Cemetery in Grasmere

year-round

A forgotten slice of Goffstown's earliest history tucked away in the original settlement village. This small, weathered cemetery dates back to the mid-1800s with rusty iron fencing and Civil War veterans' headstones scattered among old family plots. The quiet, melancholy atmosphere and historic markers make it feel like stepping back in time, surrounded by a modest neighborhood where few visitors venture.

Old Incline Railway Route on South Uncanoonuc

year-round

Follow the ghost of Goffstown's forgotten ski history up the old incline railway bed that operated from 1907-1941. You can still spot old rail spikes along the trail and find the concrete pulley housing at the former summit station. The steep ballast path offers a unique hiking experience with remnants of the area's resort past, including occasional glimpses of abandoned buildings claimed by the forest.

Nurses Hole Swimming Spot

summer

A generations-old swimming hole where nurses from the old Moore General Hospital used to cool off after work shifts. Located along the Piscataquog River where it slows to form a natural pool, this spot is now accessible via the rail trail behind the women's state prison. The secluded river bend offers a glimpse into local swimming tradition that few know about today.

Abandoned Ski Lift Remnants on North Uncanoonuc

year-round

Hidden near the North Uncanoonuc summit are the skeletal remains of a failed 1960s ski development - chairlift equipment and cleared trails that never opened due to environmental concerns. This mountain graveyard of recreational dreams offers an eerie peek into what might have been, with rusting metal infrastructure slowly being reclaimed by the forest while providing unique photo opportunities.