goffstown New Hampshire Community Profile
Goffstown, NH
Community Contact Goffstown Planning & Economic Development
Stephen B. Griffin, AICP, Coordinator
16 Main Street, Town Office
Goffstown, NH 03045

Telephone (603) 497-8990 x118
Fax (603) 497-8993
E-mail sgriffin@ci.goffstown.nh.us
Web Site www.goffstown.com

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4 pm

County Hillsborough
Labor Market Area Manchester NH Metro-NECTA
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Southern NH
Regional Development Capital Regional Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress
 District 1
Executive Council
 District 5
State Senate
 District 20
State Representative
 Hillsborough County District 7
Incorporated: 1761
Origin: This town started as a part of Massachusetts, and was known as Narragansett Number 4, Piscataquog Village, and then Shovestown before installation of the New Hampshire provincial government. In 1748, the area was granted to new settlers, including Colonel John Goffe. He had fought in the French and Indian Wars, worked for Governor Wentworth as a surveyor, and became judge of probate for Hillsborough County. Goffstown was officially named for Colonel Goffe when it was incorporated in 1761. The town includes the village of Grasmere, named for the English home of poets Wordsworth and Coleridge.
Villages and Place Names: Grasmere, Pinardville, Goffstown Village

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,275 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population in Goffstown had the 12th largest numeric change over 50 years, increasing by a total of 11,342, from 5,638 in 1950 to 16,980 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was a 31 percent increase between 1980 and 1990. The 2007 Census estimate for Goffstown was 17,632 residents, which ranked 14th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2007: 476.8 persons per square mile of land area. Goffstown contains 37.1 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2005 $18,322,442
Budget: School Appropriations, 2005 $33,220,713
Zoning Ordinance 1961/08
Master Plan 2006
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Selectmen; Planning; Budget; Library; School; Zoning
Appointed:
 Conservation; Cemetery; Historic; Economic Development; Parks & Recreation

Public Library Goffstown Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Elliot Hospital, Manchester 10 miles 296
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester 8 miles 330

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier KeySpan
Water Supplier Grasmere Water; Goffstown Village; Manchester Water

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Municipal
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
Recycling
 Mandatory

Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Yes
Residential
 Yes

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2007 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $24.70
2007 Equalization Ratio 79.6
2007 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $19.60

2007 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 89.2%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 9.0%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 1.8%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2007 Total Housing Units 6,308
   
2007 Single-Family Units 4,425
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 14
2007 Multi-Family Units 1,617
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 2
2007 Manufactured Housing Units 266
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2007 17,632 402,302
2000 16,980 382,384
1990 14,769 336,549
1980 11,315 276,608
1970 9,284 223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 8,093
Female
 8,836

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 895
Age 5 to 19
 3,784
Age 20 to 34
 3,669
Age 35 to 54
 5,243
Age 55 to 64
 1,295
Age 65 and over
 2,043
Median Age
 35.4 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 85.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 25.2%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $21,907
Median 4-person family income $61,718
Median household income $55,833

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $39,757
Female
 $30,000

Families below the poverty level 2.6%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1997 2007
Civilian Labor Force
 8,731 10,337
Employed
 8,522 10,021
Unemployed
 209 316
Unemployment Rate
 2.4% 3.1%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1997 2007
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 491 457
Average Weekly Wage
 $686 $855
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 1,749 1,957
Average Weekly Wage
 $350 $486
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 2,240 2,415
Average Weekly Wage
 $424 $556
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 547 1,129
Average Weekly Wage
 $585 $687
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 2,787 3,544
Average Weekly Wage
 $456 $598
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Goffstown operates grades 1-12 District: SAU 19
Career Technology Center(s): Manchester School of Technology Region: 15

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 3 1 1 1
Grade Levels
 P K 1-4 5-8 9-12 K 1-8
Total Enrollment
 839 982 1,243 256
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2008: Total Facilities: 12 Total Capacity: 505
Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester
Nearest Colleges or Universities: St. Anselm; Hesser; Southern NH University; UNH-Manchester

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Saint Anselm College Education 475 1889
Town of Goffstown Municipal services 400 1761
Hannaford Brothers Supermarket 200 1993
Shaw's Supermarket Supermarket 200 1974
Cote Electric Electrical services 84 1977
Hillsborough County County services 70 1769
Benchmark, Inc Hermetic sealing systems 40 1990
Northeast Sheet Metal, Inc. Sheet metal fabrication 40 1976
Happy House Amusement Arcade machines 35 1986

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes
  State Routes 13, 114
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-293, Exit 4
         Distance 8 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Manchester-Boston Regional
Runway
 9,250 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 13 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 8

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 8 miles
Portland, ME
 107 miles
Boston, MA
 61 miles
New York City, NY
 258 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 250 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 81.7%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 8.5%
Public transportation
 0.1%
Walked
 4.8%
Other Means
 1.3%
Worked at home
 3.6%
Mean Travel Time to Work 26.1 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 22%
Commuting to another NH community
 71%
Commuting out-of-state
 7%
    
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
X YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Pat's Peak, Crotched Mountain
   
Other: Outdoor Ice Skating Rink

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2008. Community Response Received 07/30/08

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

For Source Information Click Here