What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barrington	Ashby
People
Population	9,489Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barrington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barrington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Ashby and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$399,100±$30kHighest 20% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Barrington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Barrington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,121Highest 128% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barrington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barrington and Ashby 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	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Barrington School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.