Compare towns
Ashland vs Barrington vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ashland | Barrington | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
9,489 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Ashland and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
| Durham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Durham 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 | — | #65 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Barrington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.