Compare towns
Barrington vs Ashland vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Barrington | Ashland | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
2,183Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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±$30k about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Barrington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Highest 7% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Ashland School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.