Compare towns
Barrington vs Barnstead vs Strafford vs Rochester
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 people working from home (18.7%).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Rochester has the most renters (34% 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 | Barnstead | Strafford | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
4,994 |
4,306Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest 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±1.8 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Rochester 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% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest 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% |
4.3%±1Lowest 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±$14k 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below 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 |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below 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 |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Barnstead School District | Strafford School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.