Compare towns
Barrington vs Barnstead vs Strafford vs Litchfield
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%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Barnstead | Strafford | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
4,994 |
4,306Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Litchfield 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%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Litchfield 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% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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 |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$8,273Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Litchfield and Barrington 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Barnstead School District | Strafford School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.