Compare towns
Barrington vs Auburn vs Hampstead
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 the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
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 | Auburn | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
6,119Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Auburn 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% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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 NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Auburn and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hampstead 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Auburn School District | Hampstead 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.