Compare towns
Barrington vs Bow vs Mapleton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Mapleton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
8,335 |
1,884Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 128% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Bow School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.