Compare towns
Barrington vs Bow vs Madbury
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).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Bow | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
8,335 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Bow and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow 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% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Bow and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Bow and Madbury 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 |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Barrington and Madbury 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Bow 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barrington School District | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.